Welcome to the sickle website
This website is dedicated to the history and restoration of the ex 'Middle Northwich' motor Sickle. Sickle was built in 1936 for the Grand Union Canal Carrying Company as one of eight prototype narrowboats built by W. J. Yarwood and Sons. They were designed for estuary are were built with rounded chines and a vee bottom to allow them to swim more easily.
Due to their shape they were unstable and unpopular with the boatmen, therefore the Ministry Of War Transport decided to shorten 4 of the motors and convert them into icebreakers by fitting a 5ft ice ram to the bows. Click here for more information on Sickle.
latest news
| 1st July 2009: | Boating Trip page updated including: 1. Trip on Sweden to Middlewich |
| 3rd June 2009: | Details of the BCN Marathon Challenge have been added. Click here. |
| 4th May 2009: | Details of trip on Sickle from Sawley to Withymoor have been added. Click here to take a look |
| 28th April 2009: | Photos of trip on Sickle down the River Trent have been added. Click here |
| 28th April 2009: | Photos of trip on FMC butty Ilford have now been added to the boating trips page. Click here |
| 28th March 2009: | Photos of the British Waterways 'Towpath Tidy' have been added to the site. Click here |
| 18th March 2009: | Sickle is is now back in the water having been docked for blacking. Click to see photos |
| 1st March 2009: | Photos of the back cabin of Sickle have been added. Click Here |
| 15th February 2009: | Details of trip on ex Midlands and Coast butty Apollo has been added to the boating trips page. Click here |