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FORGING AHEAD: A History of Tooley's Boatyard
Forging Ahead is a fascinating look at Tooley's Historic Boatyard in Banbury. This almost hidden jewel in the north Oxfordshire market town has been a well known feature of the Oxford canal for the past 240 years. The author, Matthew Armitage, has been the director of the business for the past 16 years. Using archive material as well as his own intimate knowledge of the site, he describes the yard's tumultuous and challenging past. With a wealth of rich, and many previously unseen illustrations, this is a must read for anyone with an interest in the history of boatbuilding and canals alike.
138 pages, Paperback
Published October 5, 2018
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
July 26, 2024
I had the pleasure of visiting Tooley's boatyard recently and what a visit. If you google them and look at their location you will wonder how they survived. Surrounded on all sides by monolithic retail construction they are a stoic reminder of the commercial heart and essential role that this Banbury business has played, and continues to play, since 1778. Although it looks like modern Banbury could swallow this last link I was delighted to learn that it is now protected by the foresighted stewards that work here and is now safe forever as long as it remains a working boatyard.
This book paints the detail and colour just like the Tooley's would take wood, and metal, and paint and create works of art that floated and carried goods. Roses and Castles and much more adorned their boats making them shine. This book unpacks what might look at first glance as a ramshackle collection of buildings and weaves the stories that bring it alive.
I have always loved a "David and Goliath" type story, but beyond the headline, I am always curious how they prevailed despite the overwhelming resources of their adversary. Why didn't they fade away, why didn't they pack up and move on, and why is it now NOT just a memorial garden?
The short version is because of a few highly committed people (including the author Matthew Armitage), the long version is much, much more fascinating and you will find it explained and illustrated in this wonderful book.
Get this book and take, not only a trip down memory lane, wander into the present and gaze at what the future holds.
Then go and visit, you won't be disappointed.
This book paints the detail and colour just like the Tooley's would take wood, and metal, and paint and create works of art that floated and carried goods. Roses and Castles and much more adorned their boats making them shine. This book unpacks what might look at first glance as a ramshackle collection of buildings and weaves the stories that bring it alive.
I have always loved a "David and Goliath" type story, but beyond the headline, I am always curious how they prevailed despite the overwhelming resources of their adversary. Why didn't they fade away, why didn't they pack up and move on, and why is it now NOT just a memorial garden?
The short version is because of a few highly committed people (including the author Matthew Armitage), the long version is much, much more fascinating and you will find it explained and illustrated in this wonderful book.
Get this book and take, not only a trip down memory lane, wander into the present and gaze at what the future holds.
Then go and visit, you won't be disappointed.
Displaying 1 of 1 review