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LOCATION
Moored under the bridge at EgertonNarrowboats Boatyard, Stretford, Greater Manchester on the Bridgewater Canal.
CONDITION
Dry dock inspection has revealed the extent of repairs needed on the hull to make it seaworthy. The sides will need re-plating in the next few months.
HISTORY
Converted to an an oil tanker with two 2000 gallon(approx) tanks operating on the Fens in Norfolk since the 1930's. It was still in use in the 1980's for supplying oil and diesel laterly on the Bridgwewater. A Westlander Dutch barge constructed in c.1912,with an iron rivetted hull. The Lister LP2 engine was installed in 1938 and tanks and pumping gear installed.
It was registered at Lloyds in 1938 by 'Shellmex-BP Ltd.' and was the smallest oil tanker in their fleet.
PROJECT
To restore the hull of the boat as closely as possible to the original lines. To convert the tanks to modern day use and provide accomodation.
Steering (disconnected)
Pumping gear
(now removed)
Inside the forward tank.
The current superstructure with the existing tank consisting of two separate compartments.
"Shellfen". is a dutch barge that was converted in the 1930's by Shellmex-BP into the smallest oil tanker of their fleet. Registered at Lloyds in 1938 it worked on the Fens around Cambridge and Ely until the 1970's, transferring to the Bridgewater canal, where it now lives.
The Superstructure with a place for the steerer to stand.
The engine hatches were constructed from the original hold covers.
Original registration document made in 1938 when it was registered as a shell oil tanker working for 'shellmex-BP'on the fens in Norfolk.The ship had previously been known as 'Progress'
HISTORY
"The Westland ship was developed towards the end of the 19th Century,when 'greenhouse culture began to develop. The main characteristics are a conspicuous length/width ratio of 5 to 1 or 6 to 1, with a small draught and sheer sides (many low bridges had to be passed by) and a moderately strong bulge in the forebody."
There are plans of a Westland sailing barge and a Westland motorbarge at the 'Maritiem Museum 'Prins Hendrik' in Rotterdam.(See Design and Build)
Translated by Dr. A.V. Akveld from: Kampen,H.C.A. (1927) "Schepen die Voorbijgaan" Amsterdam p.141-145
"The Westlander is a small flat "little-ship" with little draught; the length around 52ft, the width 9ft. 3ins.. Just as the 'bok' has no side decks, here the hatch-covers take up the full width. In the after end there is no room for a cabin, and there is at the end of the hold a closing hatch. The prow falls sharply and the rudder is broad. The front end is perculiarly formed as both sides towards the front bulge out like two cheeks that fallin sharply towards the prow. Present day vessels are unwisely built with the same form, of iron, and are very full......... and in general in a large part of South Holland and the southern part of North Holland. When it appears as a motorised craft,"
Other Book used for reference:Petrejus E.W.(1971)"Oudre Zeilschepen, Jachten en Vissersschepen" Bussum. pp.77-80
Maritiem Museum
Rotterdam
The oil tanker at Ely - Shellfen – is a well known sight on many fenland waterways in winter months. She is a Dutch barge, brought over from Holland in about 1912 to be used for carrying bulbs grown in Reach Fen to Ely Dock. When this ceased she was used in the general carrying trade between Kings Lynn and Cambridge. This did not last long, but at this time a start was being made on converting some of the pumping stations from steam to diesel operation. Previously gangs of fenland lighters had supplied the stations with coal and Shell-Mex & B.P. Ltd bought the barge to carry diesel oil in barrels to the converted pumps. At first she operated on a part time basis, but as the number of engines increased, a full time skipper was appointed. Shortly before the Second War the barge was fitted out as a tanker at Hull and from then on she carried the oil in bulk, pumping it ashore through pipes carried on board.
In 1948 Shellfen was based on Appleyard Lincoln’s boatyard at Ely, who operated her under contract. Sometime in the 1960’s ownership was passed over by Shell to Appleyard Lincoln. At one time over 100 pumping stations were supplied but as the fen roads were improved, so allowing road tankers to reach hitherto inaccessible sites and pumps were converted to all-electric working to economise on labour costs, so the number declined. It had fallen to about 80 in 1948 and to 50 by 1961. The fuel used to be picked up from rail tankers at transhipment points like Littleport, Chatteris and Benwick docks, but later road tankers from Kings Lynn arranged to meet the barge at pre-selected places not far from the pumping stations,
Shellfen is 48ft long and can carry 4,000 gallons. In a wet winter, such as 1961, when the pumps were particularly active, as many as 100,000 gallons were supplied. Now the number of pumps is about 20, which include those at the entrance to Soham, Swaffham and Bottisham Lodes; two on the Old West River near Earith; one on the Wissey at Stoke Ferry; two on the Old Bedford River and several in the Middle Level Navigations aroud Ramsey, Yaxley and March. Even now wet weather brings increased business for the barge; long may these cargoes continue.
Article from Shell-BP News .
Extracts from:
“Fenland Barge Traffic”, Based on a Thesis by John K. Wilson, Edited and additional material by Alan H. Faulkner. The second book in a series covering all aspects of boating on inland waterways published in 1972 by Robert Wilson, Kettering, Northants. (P.30-32)
‘Nowadays (1960’s) barge traffic has almost forsaken the fenland rivers, although they get busier and busier with pleasure craft. Indeed the maintenance and clay carrying barges run by the Great Ouse River Authority from their Ely depot, and a small tanker, which operates from Ely supplying a few fenland pumping stations with diesel oil, are the only commercial traffic left.’
These two pictures are taken from "Fenland Barge Traffic" published by Robert Wilson in 1972
(Thanks to Colin Lines for supplying a copy of this book)
Shellfen in the Middle Level,1961
(Shell-BP News,magazine of Shell-Mex&BP Ltd.)
(Shell-BP News)
Shellfen in the Old bedford River discharging diesel oil to a pumping station, 1961
Original specification for the sale by Appleyard's
Certificate of British Registry Official No 167221.
No, Date, & Port of Registry: 82 in 1939, London.
This craft was originally built in Holland, but where and date of construction is unknown.
Constructed of steel with scow type stern and transom stern, single screw four stroke 2 cylinder Lister Diesel. Built in 1938. 4½” Diameter cylinders x 5½” Stroke. 21 B.H.P.
Gross Tonnage 10.55, Registered Tonnage 6.66.
This craft was converted to an oil tanker by Shell-Mex and B.P. in the 1930’s and has been used for refuelling the Fenland Drainage Pumps up to the present time.
The two bunkers hold a maximum of 3,500 gallons and the pumps are operated by the main machinery.
Approximately 190ft 2½” delivery hose.
This boat could be adapted as a floating pump out service station or for diesel boat refuellers.
Can be inspected at Appleyard Lincoln & Co (Boat Builders) Ltd, Riverside Boatyard, Ely, Cambridgeshire. By appointment.
Price: £1,500 (ex Ely)
"going to the rally at York"August 1975
Letter in the form of a poem sent in reply to an enquiry by some holiday boaters who saw shellfen in 1977 while on a cruise.
Shell U.K. Oil
PO Box No 148
Shell-Mex House Strand London WC2 ODX
Mr and Mrs R.G.Green
Stechford
Birmingham
B33 8UQ January 25, 1977
Dear Mr and Mrs Green.
We are so pleased that you had an enjoyable holiday on the canals of Lancashire and Cheshire last year and we are grateful for the interest you show in the barge “Shell Fen”.
I was unaware of the existence of this barge but on enquiry with our Manchester office, Mrs Dean there has sent me a lot of information andit seems so interesting that I have attempted to condense many pages in the following saga.
From the depths of Holland Westland
From the bulb-fields of the Lowlands
Holland’s fields of glowing colour
Came the barge you saw while cruising
Came the barge that you remarked on.
More than three-score years and ten have
Passed since ‘Shell-Fens’ timbers
Felt the touch of canal waters;
More than forty of them spent in
Working for SMBP as a
Tanker carrying fuel-oil products
On the Waterways in Fenland.
Then two men, the brothers Lorenz
Brother Paul and Brother Roger
Brought her out of quiet retirement
Brought her out to start a new life,
New life as a service station.
So they set out on their journey;
Hundred leagues on inland waters
Ely start, Manchester finish
Which included, just for starters,
Nine leagues out on open waters
‘Cross the wash in King John’s footsteps
(Hidden, ‘though, beneath the water!)
Then along the Roman Fosse Dyke
Up the Trent, on tidal waters
Ploughing on towards the Humber,
Onto Navigation waters
(Of the Sheffield and South Yorkshire).
On to, then, commercial waters,
Waters of the Aire and Calder,
Rubbing shoulders with the big boys,
On to Leeds then ‘cross the Pennines
Ninety locks to navigate then
Down the flight of Johnsons Hillock
To her resting place at Worsley.
Thus the Shell Fen starts a new life
In her livery, red and yellow
And we’re sure, will long continue
So to do while people revel
In the quiet relaxation
Offered by the inland waters.
I hope this gives you the information that you were seeking and that you will be fortunate enough to come across the barge again.
Your Sincerely
E.N.Monahan
Head of Advertising Services.
The boat in the 1980's touring the canal. (photo Graham Jebb)
The steering geer that is currently disconected. (Photo:Graham Jebb)
A SHORT HISTORY
By Mr. T. Appleyard.
c. 1912 FARMER NAMED LAW BOUGHT THE BOAT WHICH WAS POWERED BY A PETROL ENGINE, TO CARRY BULBS IN CARTONS FROM HIS FARM UP THE RIVER TO ELY RAILWAY STATION
BANHAMS A CAMBRIDGE BOAT BUIDERS BOUGHT THE BOAT TO CARRY GENERAL CARGO FROM LYNN TO CAMBRIDGE
SHELL NEXT OWNER – EVENTUALLY PUT TANKS IN. WHEN IN GENERAL CARGO HOLD WAS COVERED WITH STEEL HATCH COVERS A CONTINUATION OF THE ENGINE COVERING.
AT SOME TIME THE POWER WAS BY A SINGLE CYLINDER, SEMI-DIESEL.
Letter to Dr.R.Lorenz 21st November 1975
From Kooijiman en de Vries
Jachtbouw B.V.- Deil aan de Linge
Bouwers van traditionele jachten
Deilsedijk 64 –Tel(03457)-444
Dear Sir,
Your Westlander is one of the most typical Dutch barges, which was in use in the Westland. This is a region between Rotterdam and The Hague.
The Westlander had to bring vegetables to the market. They had a little beam and little height and depth because of the many bridges they had to pass through.
Photographs are to be found in a few books:
E.W.Petrejus- Oude Zeilschepen-p.78. Ed. Uniboek N.V. Bussum-Holland.
G.C.E.Crone- Nederlandse Binnenschepen, p.91. Ed. Allert de Lange, Amsterdam.
The Westlanders have almost disappeared. Some are still in use as houseboats. Because of the little depth they are not often converted into pleasure cabin cruisers like happened to other Dutch barges.
Beautiful models are available in the Maritiem Museum “Prins Hendrik” at Rotterdam.
The organisation that deals with the Dutch traditional barges is “Stichting stamboek Ronde en Platbodenjachten, Prinsenweg 79 at Wassenaar.
With kind regards
Yours sincerely
Kooijiman en de Vries Jachtbouw B.V
J.W. Kooijman
Shellfen at the 1979 IWA National Rally, Northwich, (photo: Nick Grundy)
(Press release c.1979.)
“NEWS FROM SHELL”
Issued by Shell Marketing Limited.
‘SHELL FEN’, THE 70-YEAR-OLD DUTCH BARGE STARTS A NEW LIFE AS A FLOATING SERVICE STATIONFOR CANAL BOATS
In her youth she carried tulip and daffodil bulbs by the ton through the canals of Holland and Lincolnshire. The 40 years of her middle age she spent chugging through Britain’s East Coast fenland supplying fuel from Shell-Mex and B.P. Ltd to the pumps which prevent the waterways from flooding each winter.
And now, in her eminently respectable old age, the proud old barge called ‘Shell Fen’ has made a 300-mile journey to come out of retirement and start a fresh life carrying diesel fuel and lubricants to the growing hordes of Britain’s canal boat enthusiasts.
Two brothers, one a doctor of metallurgy, and the other a graduate printer, are helping to write this new chapter in the history of ‘Shell Fen’, which started life around 1906 as a bulb barge in Holland, and did a similar job on the Lincolnshire Fens before being bought by Shell-Mex and B.P. in the 1920’s.
The brothers who have staked both their own future and that of ‘Shell Fen’ on the firm belief that the days of the bargees and narrow boats are far from over are Dr. Roger Lorenz, a 29-year-old teacher, and 25-year-old Mr. Paul Lorenz, who three years ago swapped a secure future as a manager in the printing industry for a less obviously bright prospects as a n assistant boatman on a canal barge.
For them, enjoyment of the quiet life on Britain’s watery by-ways has grown into a faith in the fact that the slow, dependable-and cheap- transport offered by canal barge is due for a commercial come-back.
The brothers have already put their money where their mouths are by forming their own company, Lorenz Brothers, to buy and operate canal boats, and in addition Roger is a director and Paul a shareholder of a company called Northern Counties Carriers which was set up by a group of University graduates to try and keep the traditional short-boats alive and carrying goods.
“People don’t laugh at us any more. We have got a really encouraging number of enquiries coming in now”, said Roger.
‘Shell Fen’ is the latest vessel to join the Lorenz brothers fleet. She was converted to a small tanker by Shell-Mex and B.P. in the 1930’s when steel tanks were fitted into her wooden hull. Until 1970 she had chugged her way along the Fens under the control of the same boatman, Mr Edwin Appleyard, who is now an active 73-year-old.
“She carries 4,000 gallons of fuel at a time, and each winter used to supply a total of more than 150.000 gallons to keep the Fen pumps running” said Roger.
The Lorenz brothers’ plans for the future of ‘Shell Fen’ centre round keeping her as she was, and setting her up so she can sell diesel fuel, oils and greases as a sort of floating service station for boatyards and at canal boat rallies.
In fact one of ‘Shell Fen’s” first outings in her new guise will be at the Inland Waterways Association rally of boats at York in August, an event which is being sponsored by Shell.
It was Paul Lorenz himself who took the ‘Shell Fen’ on her journey from Ely to Worsley, where the brothers’ canal boat company is based.
“She handled very well all the way”, said Paul, who spent the days in ‘Shell Fen’s’ tiny stern wheelhouse, and the nights in her even smaller boatman’s cabin in the bows.
The journey included the 26-mile crossing of the Wash, which was accomplished on a calm day and with the aid of an experienced pilot.
“From the Wash we passed along the Roman Fosse Dyke, where we came across a Dutchman who immediately recognised ‘Shell Fen’ as being of his country’s Westlander design, and added that she might be the only barge of her type left in service”, said Paul.
’Shell Fen’ then headed up the tidal waters of the Trent towards the Humber before turning off the Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation. She next traversed the commercial waterways of the Aire and Calder and the New Junction to Leeds, rubbing her diminutive 20-ton shoulders with the comparatively enormous 500-tonners on that stretch.
Then followed the Pennine crossing through more than 90 locks on the Leeds and Liverpool canal before passing through the picturesque Johnson’s Hillock flight of locks to her new home in Worsley.
ends
For further information please contact Alan Jacobs.
There are two groups of Inland Drainage Boards:
Prickwillow,Ely, and The Middle Level Commissioners, March.
They share the control of over 100,000 hectares of fenland with 80 pumping stations and many other control points.
The 40 districts and drainage boards have between them 500 board members, often members are responsible for more than one board, and also share the responsibility within families.
The pumping stations have colourful names like "Ramsey Hollow", "Bedlam Bridge", "Padgetts Corner", "Burrowmoor", "Bettys Nose".
The March Group of Drainage Boards
and Commissioners
11.Benwick------------------------------------------2,215
12.Bluntisham----------------------------------------417
13.Churchfield and Plawfield-------------------657
14.Conington and Holme----------- ----------1,113
15.Drysides--------------------------------------------332
16.Euximoor----------------------------------------1,055
17.Hundred Foot Washes---------------------2,043
18.Hundred of Wisbech------------------------1,419
19.Ladus District-------------------------------------575
20.Manea and Welney District----------------3,102
21.March and Whittlesey----------------------- 3,483
22.March East---------------------------------------2,866
23.March Fifth District------------------------------409
24.March Sixth District-----------------------------329
25.March Third District-----------------------------423
26.Needham Burial and Birdbeck-----------1,000
27.Nightlayers------------------------------------------687
28.Nordelph---------------------------------------------465
29.Ramsey First (Hollow)-----------------------1,625
30.Ramsey Fourth (Middlemoor)------------1,503
31.Ramsey Upwood and Great Raveley--1,295
32.Ransonmoor District-------------------------1,584
33.Sawtry----------------------------------------------1,420
34.Sutton and Mepal------------------------------4,680
35.Swavesey-------------------------------------------462
36.Upwell ---------------------------------------------4,847
37.Waldersey---------------------------------------- 2,137
36.Warboys Somersham ans Pidley------ 4,850
39.White Fen District----------------------- --------790
40.Curf and Wimblington Combined------2,801
TOTAL------------------------------------------------50,584 Ha.
(124,991 acres)
Picture of St. Germans Pumping station and the new one under construction
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