These two views of Battyeford boat yard show  the typical Yorkshire Keel barges being built. This design of barge being common to many of Yorkshire's waterways.
The keel and ribs would be assembled first using methods little changed over hundreds of years. Then long wooden planks would be shaped, steamed in an oven to make them pliable before being nailed to the ribs of the hull. The gaps between the planks would then be caulked by driving pitch soaked hemp into the gaps to form a water tight seal.
The completed hull would then receive a thick coat of bitumen for protection.