Four years ago along with a large group of
people I watched the pleasure wherry “Hathor” cast off from the quay at Wroxham
and move slowly downstream until she was out of sight. It was September 2009, “Hathor” had just
completed her “Farewell Tour” during the summer and she was returning to base
to await overhaul and renovation.
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| "Hathor" Moving Downstream |
The intervening years have not been
kind to “Hathor”. She endured a full
winter out in the open in 2010 while essential modifications were being made to the base
to accommodate her. Ironically it was
the severest of winters for many years.
Three months of sub~zero temperatures and damaging frost took their toll
on the pleasure wherry’s varnished timbers.
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| Panels Of Inlaid Sycamore |
Now
four years on “Hathor” is safely on the slipway at the WYCCT and her restoration is under
way. Her last major overhaul was in 1986 when she was acquired by Peter Bower and Barney Matthews from Martham Boat-builders. It took them two years, and a considerable sum of money, to repair the damage caused during the decade she was used as a de-masted “live aboard”. “Hathor’s” luxurious interior suffered
grievously during this period.
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| Egyptian Hieroglyphics |
“Hathor” was originally commissioned by the
misses' Helen and Ethel Colman and built by Daniel Hall of Reedham in 1905
for a cost of £575.00. John Hurn was
paid a further £1400 for the interior woodwork. “Hathor's” luxurious, no expense spared, interior brought the grand total to £2039. 5s. 4d. An astronomical sum of money in 1905.
For
almost fifty years “Hathor” served the Colman and Boardman families with an unfailing reliability, cruising
the Norfolk rivers and broads until she was sold in 1953. She was bought by Claude Hamilton – author of
“Hamilton’s Navigation Guide to the Broads”.
To see a video of "Hathor" being hauled out click the link below.
http://youtu.be/EnPyTWkGnfA
To see a video of "Hathor" being hauled out click the link below.
http://youtu.be/EnPyTWkGnfA
This
truly iconic vessel is scheduled to return to sailing condition in the spring
of 2015. Follow her progress on facebook.
For more details of "Hathor's" intriguing history go to
"...She was bought by Claude Hamilton..." Presumably as a replacement for "Claudian" which I believe he lost on Lake Lothing in the surge of '53.
ReplyDeleteIt's modest of you not to mention that you also captured that 2009 tour on DVD rather splendidly - we at WYC highly recommend that interested readers pop over to the shop on the Big Sky Productions site for a copy :) Looking forward to more from you as restoration progresses.
ReplyDelete