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Details for Taverners Boat Club
Club Profile
Taverners Boat Club is a small club on the Northamptonshire/Buckinghamshire border near Cosgrove. The Club was founded on 1 April 1967. Originally there were three founder members and the Club soon grew. In those early days, boats were predominantly GRP cruisers, approximately 25 feet in length. Numbers increased to almost 20 boats, many of these families with children.
As time progressed, boats have got longer and steel narrowboats predominate. Consequently the number of boats accommodated has fallen. In 2007, our 40th anniversary, we had only 12 boats, averaging 40 feet and now there are only 10 boats, averaging 45 feet.
As a Club we now have 10 mooring boats and 40 members (mooring and associate). We have water and electric the full length of the moorings but none of our moorings are residential.
There was a serious fire in 2006, which resulted in the Clubhouse largely being rebuilt with repairs and alterations made to the kitchen and workshop. The club now consists of a clubhouse which can accommodate 30-35 people, a small kitchen, a small workshop and a storage shed.
We have regular meetings and work parties to help with maintenance and keeping the site in good condition. Our members have a range of skills, which they bring to the work parties and also help each other with advice and tools as needed for boat maintenance jobs.
Our social events include an annual icebreaker cruise, a strawberry tea and a barbecue.
Location
Taverners Boat Club’s on-line moorings are immediately east of Bridge 64 on the Grand Union Canal, with The Navigation pub on the opposite side of bridge. It is located five miles south of Stoke Bruerne.
Continuing south, five miles away is the new city of Milton Keynes with good access from the canal to many shops, mainline railway stations and other facilities. Milton Keynes has embraced the canal and uses it as a green, wildlife corridor for its community. Next lies Leighton Buzzard, then the Chiltern hills and eventually London.
Heading north, after Stoke Bruerne is the long Blisworth Tunnel followed by Gayton Junction (for the Northampton Arm, the Nene and the Fens). Further on is Braunston (26 miles) for the Oxford Canal and access to Coventry and the Midlands canal network.
Needless to say, over the years our members have explored most of the canal system.
Typical cruising times:
Milton Keynes (Campbell Park moorings) 6 hours, 1 lock
Stoke Bruerne (top of locks) 4 hours, 7 locks
Facilities
Online leisure mooring for 10 boats. A clubhouse with a small kitchen, toilet and workshop. We have water and electric the full length of the moorings.
The nearest railway station is at Wolverton – a three mile walk along the towpath or 4.5 miles by road.
Membership
Applications for membership are always welcome. Please contact the secretary at info.tavernersboatclub@gmail.com to become an associate member and join the waiting list for full membership with a mooring or for further information. All mooring members participate in work parties (February to December) to keep the Club and moorings looking great all year round.
Visiting AWCC Affiliated Club Members
Temporary mooring is possible - pre-booking essential. Please contact the secretary at info.tavernersboatclub@gmail.com. We offer one week free for AWCC members with a valid membership card, subject to reciprocal arrangements.
We can only offer mooring as no access to the towpath is possible without a member present. It is most likely that visitors' boats will have to be breasted-up.