Mersey flat

A Mersey flat is a type of doubled-ended barge, they were commonly used on the River Mersey.

Construction

Traditionally, the hull was built of

mizzen mast. Despite having a flat bottom and curved sides, they were quite stable.^[1] They were common from the 1730s to 1890s.^[2]

The length of a flat was from 62 to 70 feet (19 to 21 m) long, with a 6-foot (1.8 m) draught and a beam of 14 feet 9 inches to 17 feet (4.5 to 5.2 m). They could carry up to 80 tons of cargo,^[3] and this size allowed them to work along the Bridgewater Canal, the Sankey Canal and the northern parts of the Shropshire Union Canal. The Weaver flat was a larger version of the Mersey flat, measuring 90 by 21 feet (27.4 by 6.4 m). Its draught was 10.5 feet (3.2 m) and when fully loaded, could carry 250 tons.^[1]

As the name suggests, these flats originated on the River Mersey, but they were also used on the rivers Irwell and Weaver.^[4]

Most Mersey flats had been converted to

Ellesmere Port Museum have a Mersey flat in their collections, neither of which actually worked under sail.^[4]

^ ^a ^b ^c The Shell Book of Inland Waterways, (1981), Hugh McKnight, David and Charles
^ "Mersey flats". E. Chambré Hardman Archive. Archived from the original on 26 May 2011. Retrieved 13 August 2009.
^ "Sankey Canal". Retrieved 13 August 2009.
^ ^a ^b "Traditional Craft of the River Mersey & Related Waterways". Canal Junction. Retrieved 13 August 2009.

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