The Bargee

The narrow-boats Banstead and Bellerophon which were used in the film were built in 1936 and are still in existence (2016). Bellerophon became a horse drawn trip-boat on the River Wey and was renamed Iona. In this guise it made an appearance in the British TV soap Coronation Street (1960). Banstead continued to work for British Waterways until 1969 when it was sold to private use and after a career as camping boat and tearoom, Banstead is now fully restored to working condition and can often be seen on the Grand Union canal where it remains a minor celebrity, as many locals still remember the filming of The Bargee (1964) with fond memories.

When planning the journey on the Grand Union Canal, the pair agree the first night at Rickmansworth, the second at Boxmoor and the third at Apsley. Geographically, Apsley is before Boxmoor and also the two places are only a mile apart, so would not both be overnight stopping points, even if in the correct order.