The Boat was not always a Public House:

The pub building was constructed in the 17th century and therefore pre-dates the canal itself. It started life as a cottage on the estate of a man named 'Skrimgeour' who was one of William the Conqueror's noblemen. 

His successors were the 'Boughey' family. In the 1800's, once the canal was constructed (the canal took about 10 years from 1825 onwards), the building was converted into a 'Bargees' pub where the canal users could rotate their horses and obtain refreshments. It has continued to be a mooring place for users of the Shropshire Union Canal ever since.

Within the grounds of the Inn was a small Catholic church which had connections with St. Austin's Church in Stafford. In the small church on the grounds, services were held in both English and Polish.

There were originally three bars, two in rooms at street level. The 'Yardarm' bar was in a room with the bay window overlooking the canal. The 'Galley' bar opened directly onto the canal-side and mooring in the lower section of the pub, which is currently the cellar. 

This is information from the First Edition of the 'Inns of Interest in Staffordshire' published in 1968. Thank you to the kind patron that provided this quaint publication.