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Herbert Dunkley collection

Image collection containing 38 boxes containing 3129 black and white and colour slides, showing British and European waterways. Collection of over 500 photographic images either collected by or taken by HR Dunkley. Document collection containing boxes of private papers written by or for HR Dunkley.

late 19th century -1970s

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Herbert Dunkley was born in Coventry in 1911, he worked as a carpenter for some years after leaving school and then became a teacher. He had a number of interests including waterways particularly the Oxford and Coventry Canals, he also did genealogical research into the origins of working boat families and canal carrying companies. He was a member of the Inland Waterways Association from the early 1950s and attended the first National Rally at Market Harborough in a hired Samuel Barlow motorboat "Nelson", he was also a founder member, first Chairman, and Vice president of the Coventry Canal Society which he helped set up in 1957. He was awarded the right to become a Freeman of the City of Coventry in recognition of his work to save the Coventry Canal. In the late 1950s Bert bought the Samuel Barlow motorboat "Prince" and used it to undertake trips around the canals and rivers of Britain, many of his trips included the horseboat "Friendship" owned by Joe and Rose Skinner. Berts collections of archive material including original canal company documents rescued from derelict offices and skips, many volumes of notes made during his genealogical research, old photographs and photographs and slides taken during his many trips were donated to the Waterways Archive in 1996 shortly before he died in June 1997.