Short boats

Reader's Letters & Queries: NarrowBoat, Summer 2022

I read with great interest the article on short boats (NB Spring) by Chris M. Jones in which he mentions the coal company James Glover of Bingley. As a local, born and brought up in nearby Shipley, I recall Glover’s coal yard which by then was situated above Dubb Bridge on the towpath side and completely open (I don’t remember a yard by Park Road). I was impressed by the electric crane with grab which ran on rails alongside the towpath and that seemed to me to be a very modern and efficient method of emptying boats, though I never saw it in action other than grabbing loose coal brought by lorry and depositing it in the hoppers. In 1951 Holdens, Glovers of Bingley and Canal Carriers Ltd of Apperley Bridge combined to form a new company called Airedale Canal Services Ltd under the direction of Bill Burton. Glover’s last craft, short boat Arthur (formerly Mersey, the prototype Yarwoods short boat) was captained by the Halls, father and son, until 1961 or early 1962, tak…