Numero oggetto
63/474
Descrizione
This is a water can for a canal boat. It is colourfully painted with a floral design in red, yellow, blue and white. It came from the Bushell Brothers, Charlie and Joseph, who ran a canal boat building and repair business at Gannel in New Mill, Tring, on the Wendover Arm Canal, until their retirement in 1952. They also did general coach-building.
Descrizione fisica
1 water can: metal; decoratively painted
<DIV STYLE="text-align:Justify;font-family:Georgia;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;font-size:16;color:#000000;"><P><SPAN><SPAN>4. <B>Narrow boat water can</B><P>The water can was one of the most important pieces of domestic equipment found on any narrow boat, allowing the boatmen and their families to store fresh water between each stop along their journey. This example came from the workshop of Bushell Brothers, boat builders on a branch of the Grand Junction Canal at Tring in Hertfordshire. They built various types of craft including barges, narrow boats, tugs and skiffs. Regarding both painted decoration and use of the water can, in his 1953 book, <I>Country Folk</I>, Norman Wymer writes the following:<P>'For superstitious reasons special attention is always paid to the water can. Almost invariably this contains at least one castle and, like the mop, is replaced in exactly the same position after use lest any slovenliness in this matter should bring bad luck.'<P>63/474</SPAN></SPAN></P></DIV><DIV STYLE="text-align:Justify;font-family:Georgia;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;font-size:16;color:#000000;"><P><SPAN><SPAN>8. <B>Narrow boat water can</B><P>The water can was one of the most important pieces of domestic equipment found on any narrow boat, allowing the boatmen and their families to store fresh water between each stop along their journey. This example came from the workshop of Bushell Brothers, boat builders on a branch of the Grand Junction Canal at Tring in Hertfordshire. They built various types of craft including barges, narrow boats, tugs and skiffs. Regarding both painted decoration and use of the water can, in his 1953 book, <I>Country Folk</I>, Norman Wymer writes the following:<P>'For superstitious reasons special attention is always paid to the water can. Almost invariably this contains at least one castle and, like the mop, is replaced in exactly the same position after use lest any slovenliness in this matter should bring bad luck.'<P>63/474</SPAN></SPAN></P></DIV>
Storico archivio
MERL Miscellaneous note, Greta Bertram, 1 March 2013 – The donor’s father was one of the Bushell Brothers. The Bushell Brothers, Charlie and Joseph, ran a canal boat building and repair business at Gannel in New Mill, Tring, on the Wendover Arm Canal. The business was founded by their father, Joseph Bushell Senior, in 1875. They took over its running in 1912, and the business closed in 1952 when they retired. This Collection comprises tools and other objects used at Bushell Brothers, as well as other various old tools that the donor's father, who was always interested in rural crafts, collected druing his retirement.
Nome oggetto
Materiale
Tecnica
Documento esterno
- L:\MERL\Objects\JISC 2012\60 series negatives\60_5284.tif - High resolution image
