Foston company HD Narrowboats Limited work on new boat for trips on the River Slea in Sleaford
A new 30-foot narrowboat which pays tribute to a town’s history could take its first passengers for a trip next spring.
The steel boat has been brought to life by HD Narrowboats near Foston and is set to carry 12 passengers at a time on a scenic route in Sleaford — between The Hub and Cogglesford Watermill.
Named Benjamin Handley in honour of the historic transport pioneer and father of Henry Handley — president of The Royal Agricultural Society and MP for South Lincolnshire — the boat was lowered into the River Slea in Sleaford on August 13.
The boat trip project was made possible due to a partnership between Sleaford’s Navigation Trust and North Kesteven District Council by using money from the Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).
Chairman of Sleaford Navigation Trust Chris Hayes said: “It’s really exciting to see our boat, Benjamin Handley, in Sleaford and we look forward to being able to welcome people on board next year.”
The boat was lifted into place under the eye of the Sleaford Navigation Trust team, who will now complete the internal fitting of the boat together with a team of volunteers.
The boat will remain moored near The Hub while the internal woodwork, lighting and seating are installed from August to October.
North Kesteven District Council leader councillor Richard Wright said: “The narrowboat will offer an entirely new experience, allowing people not just to enjoy part of the Slea by boat but also to hear all about the ways in which the Slea Navigation brought prosperity and growth to the area after it originally opened in 1794.
“The trips will require the lifting bridge to raise for the boat to pass underneath, which will add another dimension. It’s also an invitation to explore nearby Navigation House, an original canal company office thought to be the only one of its kind still in existence, and to delve even further back into local history at Cogglesford Watermill where stone milling is powered naturally by the river.
“After disembarking there’s of course food and drink, leisure, shopping, history and more in Sleaford town centre to complete your visit, and the narrowboat also opens up opportunities for community and educational use led by the trust.”
It’s hoped that the boat can also be utilised for organised school or group trips to take in all of the heritage along the river as one joined-up experience.
The trust envisage the boat will initially run over weekends during the warmer weather, between 10am and 4pm.
Once the boat is more established, they will look at providing more trips on weekdays, especially during the school holidays.
They will also be looking to hold some seasonal-themed events such as Halloween and Christmas.
The trips are not about making a large profit, but rather just enough to sustainably manage the maintenance costs while bringing visitors to the river and into the town.
When not in use, the boat will be moored up at the landing stage by The Hub.
The boat will be locked after hours, and additional security measures including removable metal window protection be fitted.
New CCTV cameras have been installed on the walls of the Hub providing 24-hour monitoring, as part of a wider upgrade of the town’s coverage via another UKSPF project.
