Flat boats built in Runcorn

[grumyourmaud]

I am told my uncle's family used to own barges in Runcorn, His name was Ernie Abel.
I can find only very limited information on what might have been his family, I can get to Richard Abel & sons who started boat making -I think around 1850 and ceased around 1952/3.

I would love any information on who they were and what happened to the company.

[stanmapstone]

Hi grumyourmaud
If you go to http://www.historicaldirectories.org/ and do a search on Richard Abel, in the Cheshire directories there are a number of entries; 1874,1896,1902 and 1914.
The firm was at Top Locks, then at Castle Rock in 1914.
Stan

[stanmapstone]

In the 1960 Telephone Directory, Richard Abel & Sons were barge, tug and dredger owners, at Albert, Canning, and Collingwood Docks Liverpool, and the Dockyard and Delamere Dock Runcorn.

Stan

[grumyourmaud]

Thanks for that, Wow! Wouldn't have known where to look for that. seems to have loads of stuff to look at.

Will see if I can get some more info to link it to my uncle. Thanks again

[jangeo]

You can purchase from the Maritime Museum a book entitled Mersey Flats and Flatmen by Michael Stammers there are notes in it that relate to Abels and some photographs of their premises in Runcorn.

My Brother in Law, his Father and Family all worked for Abels on their barges.
I had the priviledge of going with the family on their trips up the River Mersey and Ship Canal

The business seemed to finish in the sixties when I think they were taken over by Hoveringhams who were sand merchants.

Regards
Geoff W

[grumyourmaud]

Thanks for that titbit of information, this family history is addictive, piecing bits of a jigsaw together.

I only learned of a family connection when working with grain barges (Panary) whose skipper Fred said they owned barges but I wasn't looking at family history then.
Thanks for your help

[Cath Hy]

I have only just come across this strand.
I think Abels might have carried for the Wolverhampton Corrugated Iron Company of Ellesmere Port in the 1940s. Import of raw materials, export via Liverpool (& possibly Manchester)
Does anyone know anything about this? Which boats / flats were used? I think the 'Mossdale' might have been one.
Any information gratefully received.

[Cath Hy]

Does anyone know what relationship there was between Richard Abel and Harris barges of Chester? In particular 1913  - 1930?
Also, What did Frank Pinford (Chester & Liverpool Lighterage and Warehousing Co, Cow Lane, Chester) have to do with them?

[hanes teulu]

Liverpool Mercury, Saturday, August 12, 1899
SUNK IN THE SHIP CANAL
Yesterday morning the canal boat Nellie, belonging to Richard Abel, Runcorn, was sunk at her moorings at Old Quay by the wash from the paddle steamship Duke of Leinster, engaged in the Irish trade. The boat was loaded with copper ore.

Liverpool Mercury, Wednesday, December 20, 1899
SHIP CANAL ACTION AT RUNCORN
Shipping circles were greatly interested in an action set down for hearing at Runcorn County Court yesterday, in which the Ship Canal Company sued Mr Richard Abel, boat owner and carrier, Runcorn, for £28 7s 8d, being the expense incurred by the Company in attempting to raise a narrow boat belonging to the defendant. While the boat was lying alongside the Old Quay wharf in the Ship Canal at Runcorn, with a cargo of copper ore, it was sunk, it is alleged, by the wash of an incoming steamship, and when the Ship Canal authorities were raising her the boat broke in the middle and was a complete wreck, while some of the cargo was lost and much greatly depreciated. It was announced that the case had been settled by arrangement, but the terms of the settlement did not transpire.

regards