Samuel Barlow Coal Carrying Co. Ltd

Through the years the name BARLOW has been used by several companies involved in the carriage of coal. Samuel Barlow (born 1847) started it all. He was the son of a boatman; he married in 1867 aged 20, and started his own business carrying coal from the local mines. After only three years, in 1870, he took the opportunity to move to larger premises at Glascote, near Tamworth, situated in the centre of a rapidly developing coalfield. Several members of his family started to work for him carrying coal long distance from the Tamworth area on a fleet of ten boats. The Glascote premises were enhanced in 1890 by the addition of a new house with offices and stabling adjoining. Samuel Barlow died suddenly in 1894 at the age of 47, leaving a wife and two sons to carry on the business. Trade flourished. Barlows bought a number of previously used boats and built a number of new day boats, the latter intended specifically for the local trade. (Note: - A day boat was equipped with a very small shelter, instead of a full cabin. It was therefore only suitable for short duration daytime use). Expansion continued apace well into First World War (1914 - 1918) further funding for this expansion being provided by the firm becoming a limited company in 1916. Samuel Barlow (Tamworth) Ltd. had local backers, as well as distant relatives of the family as directors. John Barlow, Samuel's son was the General Manager, but, as a result of disagreement with other directors when they gave trade away to other companies, he sold most of his shareholding in 1919. The same year the company moved their head office to the centre of Birmingham. By continuing to buy up small companies and their boats, and the building of several further day boats, the company's fleet numbered almost 70 craft by 1930. In 1931 the name was changed to "Samuel Barlow Coal Carrying Company Ltd." and, through being one of the largest coal carriers on the canals, continued to develop; although by this time with railway competition beginning to take it's toll many of Barlows competitors had begun to fall by the wayside. The policy of buying second hand boats continued, along with the further purchase of new boats, many of them built by Nursers of Braunston, a yard that Barlows eventually acquired for themselves in 1941. 

DAPHNE No 48, built Nursers of Braunston 1938.

It was after the end of the Second World War (1939 - 1945) that the decline of the company begun. Several factors contributed to this: - coal was increasingly carried by both road and rail, mines near the canals in the Midlands were becoming exhausted and therefore closing, new factories were no longer built alongside the canals, and the new pits that opened were inevitably some distance from the canal, making carriage by water impractical. There was also a marked increase of the use of fuel oil by industry. Trade diminished to such an extent that by 1957 Barlows operated only 24 boat and butty sets and 10 day boats. By the end of 1961 only seven sets were left, and the following year, 1962, saw the final end of operations, and the sale of the Braunston yard and the few remaining boats in the fleet to "Blue Line Cruisers". Barlows had a reputation throughout their history on the canals for the decoration of their boats. The finely detailed and elaborate artwork, especially on the butties, was a tradition that was continued right up to the very end.

.......GRACE No 88 at Worcester Bar in 1975.

For a full history of the company see Narrowboat magazine.

Name / Fleet No. / Source / When joined fleet / Registered / Date Reg'd / Gauging No. / Gauging date / Other information

Key to Samuel Barlow List