''Peacock'' is a British
narrowboat. She was built as a
flyboat The flyboat (also spelled fly-boat or fly boat) was a European light vessel of Dutch origin developed primarily as a mercantile cargo carrier, although many served as warships in an auxiliary role because of their agility. These vessels could displa ...
for
Fellows Morton & Clayton (FMC) at
Saltley
Saltley is an inner-city area of Birmingham, east of the city centre. The area is part of the Washwood Heath ward, and was previously part of the Nechells ward. It is part of the Ladywood constituency in the city.
History
Saltley was originally ...
,
Birmingham
Birmingham ( ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city and metropolitan borough in the metropolitan county of West Midlands (county), West Midlands in England. It is the second-largest city in the United Kingdom with a population of 1. ...
in 1915, as fleet number 102. FMC had been using a fleet of steam fly boats (including
''President'') since 1889, but in 1912 introduced motor boats such as ''Peacock'' into their fleet. 'Fly' boats work day and night non-stop, and with an all-male crew the cabins were more spartan than those of long distance family crewed boats.
''Peacock'' worked with FMC's northern fleet until nationalisation in 1948. She was then sold and used as a
tug and a
houseboat between 1952 and 1993 when she was bought by the
Birmingham Museum of Science and Industry, part of the
Birmingham Museums Trust. ''Peacock'' has been described as being in the most original condition of any of the FMC boats: never converted or altered, she still has most of the original fittings. The current engine dates from the 1920s and is a 15 hp Bolinder.
''Peacock'' is on loan to the
Black Country Living Museum
The Black Country Living Museum (formerly the Black Country Museum) is an open-air museum of rebuilt historic buildings in Dudley, West Midlands, England. , where she can be seen dockside at the
Black Country Living Museum boat dock, in the
Lord Ward's Canal Arm at
Dudley
Dudley is a large market town and administrative centre in the county of West Midlands, England, southeast of Wolverhampton and northwest of Birmingham. Historically an exclave of Worcestershire, the town is the administrative centre of the ...
.
''Peacock'' is registered by
National Historic Ships
National Historic Ships UK is a government-funded independent organisation that advises UK governments and others on matters relating to historic ships. as part of the
National Historic Fleet
The National Historic Fleet is a list of historic ships and vessels located in the United Kingdom, under the National Historic Ships register. National Historic Ships UK is an advisory body which advises the Secretary of State for Culture, Media ...
.
References
External links
/ National Historic Ships official website
Black Country Living Museum
Canal boats of the United Kingdom
Ships and vessels of the National Historic Fleet
{{ship-stub