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Posted by guest on 21st May 2010 at 06:23 PM
Video: The Victoria R - a Gentleman's Launch
by Tony Flynn
Edited by Karen Morris

In this video we speak to Phil Austin who is not only the owner of the Monton Lighthouse but also the owner of a magnificent Victorian gentlemen's saloon launch, the Victoria R, which was built in the 1880s.

Originally called the Glenrosa and built for the owners of the Leeds and Liverpool canal, it started life as a coal-fired boiler driven vessel, then became a diesel oil burner.

It was disused for many years and was languishing as a derelict hull in a quarry in Derbyshire, before a chap from Henley on Thames restored it to its former glory, where the vessel won awards at the Henley Regatta.

Phil happened to spot the boat on a photographic site and ended up purchasing it several months later. He then had it transported to its present mooring outside the Monton Lighthouse, where he has spent many hours renovating the boat, installing an electric motor and changing its name to the Victoria R.

This is in honour of Queen Victoria who sailed along the Brigewater canal in 1851 from Patricroft to Worsley as a guest of the Duke of Bridgewater.

The boat is being transformed into an exact replica of the one in which she sailed to Worsley, also next year will be the 160th anniversary of the visit and plans are afoot too arrange a visit from a member of the current royal family to celebrate this occasion.

Report as offensive or innapropriate Comment by Guest  8th November 2010
She's not been nicked. She's on display in the 'Museum of Museums' at the Trafford Centre.

Report as offensive or innapropriate Comment by Guest  10th September 2010
The boats gone!, don't say it's been nicked it looked a really nice boat and I would have loved to have had a sail in it.

Report as offensive or innapropriate Comment by Guest  1st June 2010
Had a look at the boat and the lighthouse at the bank holiday weekend, they look great.

Report as offensive or innapropriate Comment by Guest  22nd May 2010
Does Phil have any plans to hire the boat out for commercial purposes, it would be lovely to silently glide along the Brdgewater canal on this boat, or perhaps take the blushing bride up to Worsley Court House for her wedding day, this would be something really different. Whatever you decide Phil, the boat looks lovely and I look forward to next year celebrations.

Report as offensive or innapropriate Comment by Guest  21st May 2010
Great video, and great research, really enjoyed this, what a nice chap Phil is, and lucky enough to own a lighthouse and a boat. I have really enjoyed the series about the lighthouse and the Victoria R, keep them coming as I am sure you will.

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