Old Concrete Barge at Glasson Dock basin, BABAGH/JEE

An old concrete barge resident at glasson basin is now being demolished.

Does anyone know how it got there and what it was used for.

will ask british waterways. it was last rented from british waterways as a cafe some years ago, I saw a for sale sign on it for a while, locals tell me it was eventually offered for £1, it is now costing british waterways thousands to demolish it, the intention is to crunch it in a stone crusher and spread it on the car park. unfortunately the car park has been deemed unsuitable to supprot the crane needed to lift this 80ton barge out of the basin, it is still watertight and last time I was in it when it was a cafe, there was enough space to fit my house in it, the rooms that is, had I loads of money, would consider it as a house boat.
apparently babaghee was its original name.

seems a shame, there can't be many concrete barges about, just wonder what its history is.

 

It was certainly around in the 60's when I was a kid. The 'Ba ba gee' coffee bar and cafe was a welcome stop off after a bike ride along the Glasson Branch line from Aldcliffe! It was operated by the same man who owned and ran the 'Moby Dick' during its time moored alongside the prom in Morecambe. I think his name was Peter Latham - but its a long time ago.

 

Concrete barges were developed during WW2 because they used less steel that ordinary boats and barges. Production continued for a while after the war while steel remained in short supply. So it's possible that this barge dated from the 1940s.

Regards,
John Webb

 

The Boat Museum in Ellesmere Port has already preserved a similar vessel.

 

thanks for the replies, GB3 has kept me busy amongst other things, must get over there to have a look, they were looking for somewhere to drag it out of the water, to finish chopping it up, must try and remember to ask british waterways.