The Friends of Raymond was formed in October 1996 to recover, restore and exhibit Raymond, the last unpowered wooden commercial carrying craft ever built in the UK: by 2002 restoration was complete.

In 2003 Nutfield, which used to tow Raymond when it was a working boat, came on the market, and we managed to buy her. We are constantly fund-raising to restore Nutfield further and to maintain both boats.

The boats are based at Braunston on the Grand Union Canal.

Training people to run the pair in-line or breasted (side by side), and to work the locks efficiently, ensures that the old boating skills are kept alive.

During the Spring and Summer Raymond and Nutfield can be seen passing by on the cut in all their colourful glory on their way to be exhibited at various waterways events where we invite the public on board to explain a bit about the life of a working boat family.

New video - Raymond & Nutfield on The Cut

The story in brief: a slideshow (please wait for the images to download)

Both Nutfield and Raymond are listed on the National Historic Ships Register