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Built in 1946 and registered in 1947, Dane was built by the Mersey Weaver Ship and Canal Carrying Company, just north of Middleport Pottery at the Charles Stanyer yard in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent.
Dane is a 70-foot-long wooden narrowboat built from oak and opepe. During her formative years, Dane primarily traversed the Trent & Mersey waterways until approximately 1957. It is believed that she predominantly carried 30 tons of clay from Liverpool to Stoke-on-Trent, with return journeys frequently involving the transportation of finished pottery ware crates back to the Port of Liverpool for global distribution.
In 2012, Dane was acquired by the Narrowboat Heritage Foundation and underwent extensive restoration, focusing on both the structural and mechanical aspects. This included a complete overhaul of the diesel engine, under the expert guidance of a master boat builder.
Dane was subsequently donated to Re-Form Heritage and now proudly resides at Middleport Pottery as part of the award-winning heritage attraction.
It is believed that Dane is the most complete and authentic rebuild of a wooden narrowboat for more than 30 years.
National Historic Ships Flagship of the Year 2025
In 2025, Dane was announced as one of four historic vessels from around the country to be appointed by National Historic Ships UK (NHS-UK) as its Flagships of the Year for 2025 and ‘fly the flag’ for maritime heritage.
The other three 2025 flagships were:
NHS-UK’s annual Flagship Awards have been running since 2009. The Awards provide an opportunity to demonstrate and celebrate the value of historic vessels to the wider public.
Dane’s Role at Middleport Pottery
Dane plays an integral role here at Middleport Pottery. Dane is moored across from the entrance of The Packing House Café and highlights the important role the canals played with in the pottery industry as part of our Heritage Trail.
Dane also offers customers regular trips along the Trent & Mersey canal in the summer months. These popular excursions either head towards Etruria or go through Harecastle Tunnel. For those wanting to experience what it is like to travel on a narrowboat but are unsure about taking part in a full excursion that takes several hours, at several times throughout the year we also offer a range of short Mini-Trips. Check our What’s On page for Dane tour availability – CLICK HERE
Dane also plays an integral role within our Formal Learning Programme – For further information CLICK HERE
