A Hucknall History

Industrial Developments

Birchwood Boats

Huthwaite is a centralised inland location surprisingly associated with manufacturing larger sea cruising motor yachts. But near the major Mansfield town and edging west Nottinghamshire in the East Midlands, this is where the Birchwood brand firmly established prestigious international repute building up a range of high quality vessels. Respected corporate identity has been kept throughout successive takeovers. Latest future range discontinued UK manufacturing in 2006 under Birchwood Marine International Ltd.

Year 1962 happened to be when Healey Marine Ltd pulled out an increasingly competitive British market. That subsidiary diversion from the Austin-Healey car company relates name between their distinguished Frogeye sportster Austin Sprite, with a 13½ foot long fibreglass hulled Healey Sprite. Donald actually cloned a successfully launched 1959 G3 speedboat designed for water skiing. June 1960 US 188,148 registration filed by William Tritt of Glaspar Co, in Santa Ana, California, aimed to stop any further copies.

The Sprite had been smallest model in the Healey Marine boat range. Critical restorers questioned a few areas concerning original build quality. Maybe that's indicative why overstretched management decided to concentrate funding developments just into cars. Ending two years producing 1400 Healey Marine Sprites priced new at £275 plus choice of engines, apparently then sold moulds onto Interglass Ltd. This now appears to recognise when Mr Andrews next formed another limited company based in Huthwaite. It must make astute business sense when risking expansion into newly developing his larger speedboat. Chance of failure limits any potential loss of initial investment costs, without adversely affecting his primarily established Birchwood Boat limited company.

From mould reshaping, through perfecting designed construction, to outboard motor testing on the nearest river Trent, emerged a subtly refined Thunderball model. Its unclear dating announced availability before Light Craft identified an extended 1966 range.

Current owner of one of these now rare classics confirmed dash plate identifies the makers Interglass Marine Co Ltd, Huthwaite, Notts, England.

Car buffs might incidentally, appreciate common response identifying fibreglass bodied Reliant Scimitars invoking reply Princess Anne had one of those ! Well the Interglass Thunderball could also be associated from fact Sean Connery had one of those !

Mention given an Interglass small cruiser might suppose basis on another past Healey mould. Nevertheless, the well appointed 16ft double berthed Gemini joined four seat variations of the more popular Thunderball when The New York Times reported how the 1966 London Boat Show - Craft Made of Fiber Glass Outnumbered Wooden-Hull Boats for the first time. Output at record level & Industry Exports Soar to $28 Million of Its Total $116 Million.

Filming 1968 London show heralds great popularity in water skiing. The Interglass Thunderball already seemed well designed for that market, much like its two previously manufactured speedboat designs.

Safely riding waves while minimising wake with the same 52mph rated hull had by then morphed into a more appropriately named Thunderski Runabout. What looks to be taken from the earlier Light Craft photo shoot claimed showing this 1968 updated Thunderski version launched for that year. Only discerning enthusiasts may recognise any cockpit changes generally referring to a Thunderthingy.

Birchwood Boat Company Ltd.

The one major difference is manufacturers name. Dropping Interglass Marine Ltd after six years establishing entry into a highly competitive motor boat market, now returns original Birchwood Boat Company to the forefront. Signalling future brand confidence, Birchwood Boat Ltd proudly displayed their glass fibre power craft ranging from the 13½ft Thunderski outboard speed boat up to a 19½ft two berth Vanguard Spectre cabin cruiser. Adding to the mid sized 16ft Gemini cruiser had newly revealed a 16ft Thunderjet.

Producing those models somehow shared between two adapted Sutton-in-Ashfield factory units hadn't so far presented much of a problem. Surprised to later find the original Hardwick Lane premises became prominent Interglass Marine address. It kind of switched main contact point away the secondarily purchased Sutton Road, Huthwaite premises. But having been based here, Mr Andrews would no doubt be offered some timely incentive encouraging his expansion, as likewise offered aiming to develop a Fulwood Industrial estate.

Managing to trace launch of a larger Birchwood Intercepter range from 1968, has to best suggest unconfirmed year demanding the move into much bigger newly built premises. The smaller 18ft Continental & Camper was another popular outboard cruiser at a loosely dated Earls Court boat show.

Closing both the Hardwick Lane plus later sale of Sutton Road premises must have finalised manufacturing any smaller craft.

Future held address upon a developing Fulwood Road North, Industrial Estate all begins from initially given Common Road, Huthwaite, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, NG17 2JU site. Outdated Sutton telephone number preceded Mansfield area code presented in a 1970 Birchwood 22 hand book. Guarantee warranting that example from the Birchwood Boat International Ltd (The Company), infers broader dealership backup. Maybe that starts generating US and European branded sales.

Significance behind numbering a Birchwood 22 based on a 22ft Intercepter Junior and a 25 model on 25ft Intercepter moulds has to be 1970 introduction of inboard engines. Numbering of ever longer luxury motor yachts would present too vast a range to feature beyond researching this companies exposed history.

Aerial view overlooking the much extended works looks north and upward along Common Road towards Huthwaite heights. Lower valley setting below New Hucknall Colliery grounds was adjacent that old pit tip and past landfill site, before planting Rookery Park.

Diversifying into designing and thereafter manufacturing performance motor yachts may be result of loosely recognised changes in management. Workforce could only hint a potential partnership existed between appointed directors. Whatever that arrangement was, releasing newer, faster, bigger and more luxurious vessels continued about a decade under notably tumultuous management.

Company shareholders signed June 1991 approval to remove one Article of Association. That just named Mr & Mrs Andrews first directors. Auditor firm didn't disclose reason tendering 22nd December 1993 resignation. The formerly numbered 724733 company dissolved before the aforementioned Mentornet Ltd changed name into a numbered 03287352 Birchwood Boat Company Limited registered on 3rd December 1996.

Complicated association changes ultimately presented Birchwood Marine International Limited. Discontinuing 2006 UK manufacturing placed Common Road site on the market, until noting 2014 withdrawal from sale.