Avon at Wansford

Pictures from the Past

The House Boat 'AVON' moored at Wansford from 1927 to just before WW2.

More Pictures of House Boats on the Navigation

Pictures and text kindly donated by Jenny Mackenzie of Apperley Bridge Bradford. The houseboat 'AVON' was used by her mothers extended family for weekends and holidays. Jenny's mother has many memories of the area, where they went to shop, where they drew their drinking water and a local farmer who used to put a rope swing on an oak tree whenever he knew the children would be there.

The boat Avon was made from the bottom of an old lifeboat, while the top and the interior were made from discarded train parts which Jim Oldfield purchased from LNER.

Jim Oldfield (pictured left) is seen here with the Avon, which he and his son-in-law Harry Wintie completed around 1927. The Avon stayed at Wansford until the late 1930’s, when it was sold and moved to Hessle. During that time it was a weekend and holiday home to 3 generations of the family.
The photograph (below) was taken in 1927 by Harry Wintie and shows, from left to right Lena Oldfield, (his mother in-law), Alice Oldfield, (his sister-in-law) and Jim Oldfield, (his father-in-law).

Harry and Dorothy Wintie are pictured here with Dorothy’s mother Lena Oldfield. This picture was taken in 1928 while Dorothy was expecting their first child, Brian. In subsequent years their two other children Pat and Kathleen were born, beginning a new era of family times at Wansford.


Lena Oldfield feeding the horse and chickens.	Harry Wintie and Jim Oldfield sunbathing on the bank at Wansford. The lady in the water is unknown.
The Avon was sold just before WW2 and moved to Hessle. Thanks to Jenny Mackenzie for the owners details.