Mossdale
Originally named ‘Ruby’, the origin of Mossdale is obscure. One source states that she was built in 1860 by Speakman, William, Chester, and
another that she was built in 1876 by the Shropshire Union Railway & Canal Company.
Her hull is of carvel construction (planks flush, not overlapping) of oak, elm and pitch pine.
She was mainly used to carry grain between Liverpool, Runcorn, Birkenhead and Manchester, as well as carrying grain to flour mills at Ellesmere Port, Cheshire.
Other cargoes believed to have been carried were sugar for the Tate & Lyle refinery in Liverpool and iron.
She was renamed Mossdale when Abel & Sons of Runcorn, Cheshire, bought her in the 1930s. They extensively rebuilt and deepened her to obtain the maximum load for a minimum displacement. She was found abandoned at Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, in 1970 and was donated to the Boat Museum at Ellesmere Port.
Oakdale
This vessel was built in 1951 by Richard Abel & Sons of Runcorn, and her hull is of composite construction (wood and steel),
with a Lister HA3 diesel engine. She spent her working life on the rivers Mersey and Weaver and was mainly used to carry grain.
She was built to a design similar to those built by Abels in the 1850s.
| Specification | Mossdale | Oakdale |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 71ft 11½in | 72ft 6in |
| Draught | 5ft 6in | 3ft 0in |
| Beam | 14ft 3in | 15in 9in |
| Builder | Obscure | Richard Abel & Sons, Runcorn |
| When built | 1860 or 1876 | 1951 |
| Location | National Waterways Museum, Ellesmere Port, Cheshire | Askam in Furness*, Cumbria |
Mersey Flats on the river Mersey, early 20th century.
Bridgewater Canal, Runcorn, Cheshire, early 20th century.
The Mersey Flat in the centre is moving towards Doctor's Bridge.
This view is looking eastwards from Waterloo Bridge. The canal between Doctor's Bridge and Waterloo Bridge is known as 'Top of Locks', and the two flights of locks that take the canal down to Runcorn Docks are behind the viewpoint.
Mersey Flat, 'Mossdale', 1980.