Historic footage of loaded narrow boats on the Jam ole run - The Renfrew and Lucy

A documentary made in the early part of 1970 following the Whitlocks, on their boats Renfrew and Lucy, to Kearley and Tongue's Mitre Dock, more often called the Jam 'ole.

Loading was done at the top of the Atherstone Lock flight, where coal was brought from the local coal pit by lorry. We see them travelling down the Oxford Canal at Hillmorton and then onto the Grand Union canal near Blisworth and various other locations towards the Kearley and Tongue's dock in Southall near London, and then returning empty with the pair of boats breasted up. The whole round trip was normally performed in 7-8 days.

This video is being released on the 41st anniversary of the last delivery of coal to the Jam 'ole, and bringing in the end of the era of long distance regular canal transport.

Thanks go to David Morton who was given the documentary from the film student who made it as part of his studies.