Python The Workboat

Python was built by WJ Yarwoods at their Northwich Yard in 1929. She was built as a coppered steel motorboat hull, yard no. 388 - the same works number as Panther, which is not known to have happened before. It was supplied to Fellows, Morton & Clayton having been launched on 31st October 1929. Python entered the FMC fleet as no. 249 in February 1930 having been fitted out by FMC at their Uxbridge dock. She was originally fitted with a 15HP Bolinder engine. She was first registered at Uxbridge no. 572 probably sometime in 1930; she was not gauged on the BCN. She was docked by FMC at Saltley in May 1936, February 1939, November 1942 and February 1946. Python was still in the FMC fleet when it was sold to the British Transport Commission on 1st January 1949. It passed into the South Eastern Division carrying fleet, new fleet no. 236. On 25th October 1949 she is listed as being paired with the butty Romford, steered by T. She is listed in the South Eastern Division carrying fleet on 28th May 1958, paired with the butty Coniston and steered by E. She is listed as a single motor in the same fleet on 15th February 1960, but no master is mentioned. A set of inventory cards ref. BW 129/1252 has a card for Python showing her based at Bulls Bridge, full length with a Petter PD2, 20HP engine. The card lists annual work hours for the boat (849 in 1965, 1146 in 1966, 671 in 1967, 1195 in 1968, 993 in 1969) and the cost of major works (£39 in 1968 and £16 in 1969, having had a major overhaul in 1967). A BWB document listing all craft owned by the board and dated 15th August 1972 lists her as Bulls Bridge based for the London area. A Canal Transport Marketing Board list dated 1st December 1974 lists Python as a "former carrying craft on B.W.B. maintenance" based in London. She was shortened by BW in the 1980s. Her sister boat, Panther, is now owned by the Coventry Canal Society. In late May 2009, Arthur Naylor and Tony Mann of the Chesterfield Canal Trust collected Python from Adelaide Dock in London to the Chesterfield Canal and her permanent mooring near Shireoaks. Since then a dedicated crew from the Chesterfield Canal Trust have been restoring her to her present glory. She has trips around the system each summer attending rallies and promoting the Chesterfield Canal Trust.