Who was the last Englishman to stand up to the French? Which annual religious festival held in Ely leant its name to a word meaning “showy but cheap and of poor quality”? Who were the Littleport rioters and what did they do that was so bad that five of them were executed? I subscribe to the theory “that the past is a foreign country”. I’m not that old, but when I was young I lived through times that we now look back on as being of great change. However to me at the time change was invisible – its was ‘same old – same old’. The Prime Minister was always either Ted Heath or Harold Wilson, and I ..read more

Ah, the quieter waterways of Cambridgeshire and Norfolk, where narrowboats glide gracefully along wide picturesque rivers, under big skies, offering a unique way to explore the county’s hidden gems. Whether you’re a seasoned skipper or a first-time boater, mastering the art of narrowboat etiquette will ensure a smooth and enjoyable cruise. From sharing the space, to respecting the environment, there are a few written and unwritten rules that ensure harmony on the water. Here at Fox Narrowboats we have qualified instructors that will give you full training during the boat handover, but in the ..read more

Save 10% on 2024 day hires Quiet rural moorings and historic waterside pubs make narrowboat day hire the perfect romantic getaway. Fox Boats offer day boat hire near Ely and Cambridge for up to ten people, on the March Adventurer or the March Explorer. This gives couples the chance to escape on board their own private canal boat, or take family and friends along to celebrate an engagement, anniversary or another important relationship milestone. You can even bring your dog! There is plenty of seating both inside and outside the boat, and a see-through cover at the front protects passengers fr ..read more

I next visited the Middle Level again during August 1984. I set off from my mooring at the Fish and Duck marina at the junction of the River Cam and Old West River and headed for Denver where there were cruisers waiting to go through the lock. Approaching Denver lock where several cruisers are waiting – cc John Revell This was my first time entering Salters Lode lock from the tidal Ouse and I was grateful to receive good advice from the Denver lock keeper about how to do this on an in-coming tide. A fine converted mill at Nordelph. This has been extended but remains very distinct. John Reve ..read more

Want to save money on your narrowboat holiday? Looking to book a romantic mini-break? Considering living on a narrowboat? Last year on our blog we covered all of these topics, and we launched a new interactive waterways map, and suggested some good tips for family narrowboat holidays. Here are some of the highlights from another adventurous year of exploring the Fenland waterways. We are assuming that your Christmas decorations have now been taken down and the festive food has all been eaten. So before the January blues set in, try making some fun plans for the year ahead. The third Monday in ..read more

19 May 1984. Journey start Bunbury Staircase locks cc John Revell   CC John Revell Northampton River Nene 23 May 1984.   I bought my first narrow boat in 1984 after many years of hiring boats. My trip began at Bunbury on the Shropshire Union on 19 May 1984 and I reached Northampton after 5 long, hard days passing through the centre of Birmingham including Gas Street basin (which was yet to be developed). Another long day on the Nene followed, starting at the Britannia Inn just below Northampton and finishing in time for drinks in the Chequered Skipper at Ashton where a live band ..read more

Each January, the town of Whittlesey comes alive with the sound of folk music and the dancing steps of a Straw Bear. A man dressed head to foot in a straw costume parades through the streets attended by musicians and folk dancers from around the UK. straw bear festival whittlesey cambridgeshire picture: shutterstock licenced This weekend event, now known as the Straw Bear Festival, follows a nineteenth century tradition celebrating Plough Monday as the start of the agricultural year. Agricultural labourers dressed one of their own in a costume of straw, saved for the purpose from the previou ..read more

Spoiler Alert – There are so many clues in this little quiz, that I confidently predict that most readers will correctly guess the answer before reaching the end. i. who was named after a fictional ‘ lost boy who never grew up’ created by his godfather? ii. Was the only child of a famous polar explorer? iii. Was a huntsman turned ‘Father of Conservation’? iv. Won a bronze medal for England in sailing at the 1936 Berlin Olympics? v. Became a British gliding champion? vi. Ice skated at the British National Championships? vii. Presented the BBC’s first ever natural history programme in 1953 live ..read more

There are four rivers in England which are all called ‘Ouse’. The Sussex Ouse is a 42 mile long river which joins the sea at Newhaven. Sussex Ouse looking down stream from Mount Caburn The Little Ouse flows from the Norfolk/Suffolk border for 37 miles to join the Great Ouse near Littleport in Cambridgeshire. The Yorkshire Ouse flows for 52 miles until it meets the River Trent at Trentfalls, where they both join the Humber estuary. The tidal section of the Yorkshire Ouse is a truly mighty river, as anyone who has seen the photos of Naburn Lock (below York) completely submerged below floods, o ..read more

So, the nights are drawing in, the clocks are about to change, and the summer boating season is sadly over! Here at Fox Boats we will be winterising our narrowboats, which involves a series of maintenance jobs that keep the boats at their best while they’re out of use. Read: How Winter Threatens to Damage Your Narrowboat – 3 Ways to Protect Yourself So here are our top three tips for enjoying the winter months 1) Exercise We all know that exercise can help to boost our mental health, so if you live near to a canal, running, walking or cycling on the towpath can offer a workout in the sunlight ..read more