A Buckby Can is not just for Christmas..........

Happy new year 2014......

Recent weather with howling winds and floods has not really been conducive to a relaxing cruise along the canals........ but I am sure a few brave souls are out there. Good luck !!

Apart from visits to 'San Serriffe' to check mooring ropes and doing various (inside) jobs on the boat, we have become firm 'landlubbers' in our warm house for the winter.

Apart from thumbing through 'Nicholson's Guides' and planning our routes for the summer we have done little more than stare out of the windows at the thrashing rain and stuff ourselves with Christmas goodies.

One of the Christmas 'goodies' which came my way was a 'Buckby' can. I had dropped a few heavy hints and explained in my best hand-writing to Father Christmas the various Buckby can styles that the elves could perhaps produce in reply to my request. I have been a good boy over the year.....in fact, a very good boy. Walking the dog, washing the pots and wielding the vacuum cleaner, being just some of the tasks that I humbly suggested had earned enough Christmas 'Brownie' points for a gleaming Buckby can.

Christmas morning revealed a large parcel shaped like a Buckby can underneath the Christmas tree.  
" I wonder what that can be?" I innocently asked.
" Unwrap it and find out!" suggested my better half.
Lo and behold! a bright shiny Buckby can tumbled from the wrapping paper........

Buckby can for 'San Serriffe'

So 'San Serriffe' and I are proud owners of a new gleaming 'Buckby' can.  Anybody reading the blog not conversant with U.K canals are perhaps wondering what on earth a 'Buckby' can is - I will explain...............

Working boats many years ago did not have the luxury of hot and cold running water fed from a large tank like most current pleasure craft.  In fact the only running water usually fell on the boatman's head in the form of torrential rain whilst working in all weathers.

Fresh water was only available from taps at the side of the canal and these were far and few in-between.  A can was therefore required to carry the precious water preferably with a lid and a pouring spout so the 'Buckby' can was developed.  Like many things on a working narrowboat these cans became highly decorated with the traditional Roses and Castle designs.

A 'Buckby' can pictured (right) on this narrowboat....a James Hall 'Carrier by Canal' working boat at Fairfield Locks, near Droylsden on the Ashton Canal. Pictured are Maud Hall (James Hall's daughter), Thomas Whittle and his father.  Owner James Hall became a local Councillor and licensee of the 'Waterman's Inn' at Fairfield. Picture reproduction by kind permission of Tameside Image Archive.

An area on the Grand Union canal called 'Long Buckby' is reputed to be where this design of water can originated.  There is a story of cans being painted for boat crews many years ago at 'The New Inn' beside the top lock at Long Buckby. I believe that the Christmas Elves on this occasion sub-contracted the work on San Serriffe's can to the owner of 'Anchor Cottage' near lock 8. This delightful place is a bit like Father Christmas's workshop itself and stock full of beautifully hand-painted canalware. 

Most Buckby cans are now just left empty on the boat roof as a decorative nod to the 'old days' but perhaps I can manage to fit a bottle of wine with some ice into it for those occasional hot days of summer.   Then again sod tradition, that is what I have a fridge for................


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