j. h. taylor & sons was an english company that primarily built wooden canal boats on the shropshire union canal at tower wharf, chester. joseph harry taylor set up the business with his son wilfred in 1914 in the dee basin. the company was in wilfred's name as his father was an undischarged bankrupt. during this time the company built and repaired an array of water craft from traditional dee skiffs and salmon fishing boats to passenger launches, narrow boats and tugs. joseph harry died in 1924 and his sons carried on the business until 1970.