We recently caught up with John Dean about our upcoming exhibition Goole by Barge at Goole Museum and Gallery and he told us about developments over at Rawcliffe Bridge. It was great to meet Sarah behind the bar and Capt. Cod (at the bar) at Dean’s Marina at Rawcliffe Bridge and hear about their recent and future meetings, the Hepworth’s built Sectan and talk about the exhibition.
Sarah suggested we drive over to Sugar Mill Ponds and talk to Darren and Dan about the ex commercial barges there. As we were driving over the bridge Dan was passing under on the barge No.10. On the canal by Sugar Mill Ponds we met Darren who told us all about the Harkers built tanker barges, Lonsdale and Freda Carless. He invited us aboard the Lonsdale and into the engine room as we exchanged stories about the Open Bridges project and the Ex Commercials Barge Club. He spoke first hand of the history, renovation and practicalities of operating and turning such large and important historic vessels on the waterway. Thanks to Darren we got some great shots of these fantastic vessels.
Photographs by Richard Duffy-Howard
Rich and Lou Duffy-Howard