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ACTIVE BARGES 2007
This list includes only barges in rigged and sailing condition that
have been actively underway recently. It does not include barges
that were not built to carry cargo although it should be noted
that Alice, Betula and Montreal are all barges that originally
were built in a different form and have subsequently been rebuilt
or rerigged as Thames sailing barges and accepted as such.
ADIEU
Builder: F.W. Horlock at Mistley 1929
79 reg tons. Private yacht berthed at St Katherines Dock. A bowsprit
barge built of steel she is a sister ship to Portlight, Xylonite,
Reminder and Repertor. Owned and skippered by Iolo Brooks.
ALICE
Builder: Cooks of Wivenhoe 1954 as a lighter. Rebuilt as a sailing
barge by Owen Emerson in 1994. She is now based in London and owned
and operated by Looking Glass Charters at Butlers Wharf.
ARDWINA
Builder: Orvis and Fuller at Ipswich 1909.
66 reg tons. Owned by Ardwina Limited she is based at St Katherine's
Dock and used for promotional work. Extensively rebuilt at Maldon
since 1985.
BERIC
Sold to Newcastle a few years ago to become a pub. In August 2003 she was
sold to a new Maldon based owner. Now she is refitting at Fullbridge.
She is another example of Cann's work and as the photo shows she looked
superb racing the in the 80's.
BETULA
Built in Holland in 1924 of steel she was bought by Eddie Smith in
1996 and rebuilt as a Thames sailing barge with gear from the Vicunia,
Anglia, Sara and Venture. She is a private yacht and operates from
Pin Mill in Suffolk. She is not fitted with an inboard engine and
relies on sail most of the time although she is fitted with a 40hp
outboard motor clamped to the rudder post for auxillary use when
berthing etc.
CABBY
Built at Rochester in 1928 by the London and Rochester Trading Company
this 76 ton barge was the last wooden barge built and remained
in the ownership of her builders as they became Crescent Shipping
and later part of the Hays Group until sold to new owners in Maldon
in 2002. She remains engaged in promotional charter work.
CENTAUR
Built in 1895 this handsome barge was the work of J & H Cann
generally regarded by many bargemen as the finest barge builders
of all. Based for much of her life at Colchester she traded under
sail alone until the late 1950's when
she became a timber lighter at Heybridge. Rerigged for charter
work in 1966. She was bought by the TBSC (Now the Thames Sailing Barge Trust) in 1974.
Rebuilt between 1979 and 1995 she has been based at Maldon for many years. Used for
weekend sailing and charter work on a non-profit making basis.
CYGNET
A half size barge she was built in 1881 by Curel for use trading
to small farm creeks. Although half the length of a full
size barge she registers only 16 tons which is roughly a quarter of
the capacity of a fullsize barge. Owned by Mica Brown she is sailed single
handed by skipper Des Kalizewski.
DECIMA
An iron pot built in Southampton. After spending years as a houseboat she is
now active once more.
In 2004 after an extensive refit Decima started sailing again,
and she now regularly competes in many of the barge matches,
with several 1st places to her name.
She is a family yacht, based at Standard Quay, Faversham. Owner Tim Goldsack.
EDME
Built in 1898 she is another example of the work of J & H Cann.
She ended her trading career as a lighter and was restored
at Maldon before she was purchased and rigged out by the Harman consortium
in 1992. Based at her skipper Andy Harman's St Osyth yard she is
now used for charter work and carried a cargo in 2002. One of two
wooden barges sailing with no engine. A very successful racing
barge.
ETHEL ADA
Built at Paglesham by Shuttleworth in 1903 this little barge was rebuilt
by the late Joe Dunnet in the 1980's at Pin Mill. Now privately
owned and underway again after several years laid up.
GLADYS
Another product of Cann's yard at Harwich in 1901. Owned at Ipswich
by Cranfields she was a trading motor barge until 1974 when she
was re-rigged and is recognised by the Sunblest Bread symbol in
her topsail. Used for company promotional events out of St Katherine's Dock.
GRETA
A 46 reg ton barge built at Brightlingsea in 1892 and now based at
Faversham in Kent. Owner Steve Norris charters the barge especially
in the Kent area. She is pictured in the Blackwater Barge Match 2003.
HENRY
Based at Faversham she is near the end of a lengthy restoration and has
been underway this year and will hopefully be regularly active now.
HYDROGEN
Built at Rochester in 1906 this big 98 reg ton coaster is now operated
by Topsail Charters Limited of Maldon where she is based and carries
large charter parties on day trips as well as operating in London
and other parts of the east coast. When she was re rigged after
finishing her career as a motor barge she belonged to Bells Whiskey
and sailed around Britain doing the work that Centaur used to do
before her.
KITTY
Another Cann barge built like Centaur in 1895 at Harwich she is 65
reg tons. Built for the famous Horlock family of Mistley she featured
their distictive sheer line. Rerigged at Maldon in 1964 she operated
for many years under the command and ownership of John Fairbrother
sailing without an engine. Sold to the south coast she became a floating
restaurant before current use as a charter barge based in the Solent
area and providing to the corporate entertainment market. Over the
past few years she has undergone extensive renovation at Robert
Deard's Hoo yard.
LADY DAPHNE
Built in 1923 at Rochester this big 85 reg ton coaster was rerigged
for Taylor Woodrow as a centre piece for their St Katherine's Dock
development from where she now works as a charter barge owned by
Elisabeth and Michael Mainelli. Licenced to carry more than 12
passengers she too visits Cowes week and voyages further afield
including in recent years attendance at sail festivals at Brest
and Douranez.
LADY JEAN
A sister ship of Lady Daphne built by Shorts at Rochester from the
same plans, she was once renamed Sir Alan Herbert and owned by
the East Coast Sail Trust. Now owned by Iden and Sheena Wickings
and used as a private yacht she annually voyages to France from
her Maldon base.
MARJORIE
Built in Ipswich in 1902 by Orvis this 56 reg ton coaster was a fully
rigged sailing barge in trade until 1961 when she became a charter
barge at Maldon where she was based for many years used as a private
yacht as well as a charter barge. In the 1970's she was purchased
by Albert Groom and is now owned by barrister Simon Devonshire
and restored by Robert Deards who is her skipper. Based in Robert's
yard at Hoo or St Katherine's Dock.
MAY
A 57 reg ton product of Cann's yard at Harwich in 1891 she was owned
by Cranfields of Ipswich until 1964 when she was bought by Tate
and Lyle's subsidiary Silvertown Services. She once went to Canada
for the Olympics (by ship- not under sail!) and these days operates
as a charter barge.
MIROSA
Built by Howard of Maldon in1892 this 49 reg ton barge was a stackie
that carried straw to London from Essex farms. Another barge to
survive because she was a timber lighter at Heybridge Basin she
was rerigged in 1967 and since 1977 has been owned by Peter Dodds
and based in his yard at Faversham. Sailed without an engine she
is used as a charter barge and as a private yacht.
MONTREAL
Built Sittingbourne,1902 as swim head lighter, bought by Owen Emerson
1970 and rigged. Sold to Iden Wickings as a yacht ,
bought by Vadim Jean, 1996 and berthed at St.Marys Church Mooring,
Battersea. Underway in 2002 and now lying at Hoo.
NELLIE
Only 43 reg tons this river barge was built in 1901 at Faversham
and is now rigged a s a stumpy with no topmast. After years as
a houseboat she was restored in 1985 at Maldon where she is still
based and is a floating home to owner Diane Montgomery.
PHOENICIAN
Built at Sittingbourne in 1922 this 81 reg ton coaster was built
for Captain Alf Horlock who raced her successfully in the 1920's/30's.
Rerigged from a motor barge in 1973 by Albert Groom she is now
owned by Grant Littler.
PUDGE
A sister ship of Cabby completed 6 years earlier in 1922 this 67
reg ton barge was traded by her builders the London and Rochester
trading company until 1968 when sold to the Thames Barge Sailing
Club and rigged again. She has been sailed as a charter barge to
raise funds for barge restoration since 1982 based at Maldon. Extensive
restoration work started in 1997 and continues.
Major structural work being done on Pudge October 2005 to May 2007. She is due to be sailing again June 2007.
REMINDER
Built by Horlocks at Mistley of steel in 1929 she was a fast racing
barge and traded as a motor barge until 1974 when Roger Beckett
restored her to sail since when she has chartered out of Maldon
where she is today operated by Topsail Charters.
REPERTOR
Another steel barge built at Mistley by Horlocks in 1924 of 69
reg tons, she was restored to sail in 1977 she is now owned by
Gordon
Pollock of Faversham and operates as a charter barge, like her
younger sister Reminder.
THALATTA
A big coaster she is of 76 reg tons she is owned by the East Coast
Sail Trust a registered charity founded by John Kemp in 1971. Always
Maldon based she takes school children sailing as a sail training
ship. now skippered by Trust member Kevin Finch.
THISTLE
Built of steel in Scotland in 1895 she was restored to sail in 1988
and is now based at Maldon and owned by Topsail Charters Limited.
Luxuriously converted for charter work complete with a cockpit
in the main hold she is licenced to carry 50 passengers.
VICTOR
Built at Ipswich in 1895. Ended her trading days as a motor barge
and rerigged by Owen Emerson in1974 she became a charter barge
and was sold to Nick Briggs in 1995 and now based on the Solent or
at Butler's Wharf in London. She is licenced to carry 40 passengers.
WYVENHOE
Built of steel in 1898. Rerigged by Richard Walsh in 1984.
Now owned by Charisma Consultants,
a company part owned by Martin Phillips, trustee of the Thames Sailing Barge Trust.
Wyvenhoe is now based at Maldon, she is used for static and sailing charters,
weekend sailing for individuals and corporate work.
XYLONITE
Built of steel as BX by Horlocks at Mistley in 1926. Rigged out for
charter holidays in the 1970's she later lay alongside the Prospect
of Whitby pub at Wapping until 1985 when the Cirdan Sailing Trust
acquired her as a youth training ship. She has been based at Maldon
for the past 18 years. Skippered by trust member Richard Titchener,
she has established herself as a very fast racing barge.
OTHER BARGES:
Apart from these active barges there are a number of others in varying
states of repair. Some are undergoing restoration and rebuild,
others are static in their use. Other barges which are not listed below are
now wrecks or hulks but might one day be dug out of the mud and
rebuilt like the smack Pioneer. The barges listed below are known
to be the subject of either active rebuilding or repair or in static
use:
ATRATO
Based at Battersea she has been the subject of work for some years.
CAMBRIA
The last sail trading barge she is in poor condition and lies at Dolphin Yard
awaiting restoration.
CONVOY
This big barge lies at Wandsworth in poor condition. Sailed by Adrian
Mulville's late brother Paddy in the 80's when she was refitted
for new owners having been owned for many years by Richard Duke,
the man who also saved Centaur and rerigged her in the 60's.
DAWN
Currently at Heybridge Basin. Total re build started in September 2004 is entering the final phase. She is
due to be relaunched Spring 2007. She will be sailing, working and racing in the Summer 2007.
ETHEL MAUD
A sistership to
Mirosa she has recently been sold and a rebuild is planned.
EDITH MAY
Undergoing a restoration
in Kent she is a superb Cann built barge which dominated the
barge match scene in the 60's and 70's sailed by Jack Spitty.
ENA
Owned by Pauls
of Ipswich for many years she is undergoing a rebuild at Hoo
owned by Luke Deards son of Robert Deards who is doing the work.
FELIX
A Cann barge which Robert Deards is rebuilding at Hoo.
GEORGE SMEED
The subject of a very long and painstaking restoration she is used as a houesboat
at Cook's yard, Maldon.
GLENWAY
Rebuilt at Dolphin
Yard she is now an exhibition centre at Cook's yard Maldon.
IRONSIDES
Uunrigged
and used as a static charter vessel in St Katherine's Dock this tear
she is now undergoing a major refit.
JOCK
A floating restaurant at Gravesend
LADY OF THE LEA
A small powder barge stumpy rigged and lying at Faversham.
MELISSA
A steel barge being rebuilt at Webb's Yard at Pin Mill.
OAK
She is a Howard built Maldon barge that is at Dolphin Yard in poor
condition but being worked on.
ORINOCO
Based at Faversham she is the subject of a restoration.
PORTLIGHT
Very active before the death of her skipper and owner Lawrie Tester she
is now owned by Nigel ('Noddy') Cardy at Maldon and the subject of a restoration.
A Mistley built sistership to Xylonite.
RAYBEL
Lovely coaster, lies at St Katherine's Dock doing static charters but hopefully
she will sail again before too long.
REMERCIE
A houseboat at Faversham.
RESOURCEFUL
Another Mistley iron pot she is a houseboat at Chiswick.
SCONE
After a spell as a restaurant in the Docklands she becamse a houseboat at
Barking.A sistership to Pudge and Cabby she has been advertised for
sale recently but is now lying at Benfleet with the gear flat on the
deck. She is not rigged and looks in poor condition viewed from the shore.
SEAGULL 2
A minature barge she is in poor condition but may be rebuilt.
TOLLESBURY
Rebuilt a few years back and was used as a pub close by Canary Wharf in Millwall dock.
Sadly she sank and was taken away. Dont know what happened to her.
VIOLET
Another Howard barge she is on the Medway and has not been underway for 20 years or more.
VIGILANT
A Horlock barge she was sailed enthusiastically by previous owner
Martin Daws, raced by Mick Lungley and often sailed by Peter Boss
in the 70's and 80's. Now she is a houseboat at Woodbridge in Suffolk.
WESTMORELAND
Centaur's predecessor broke her back when she stranded at Hoo and sank in 1973
and the TBSC wrote her off. Colin Frake the member who had lead her
maintenance team bought the hull and has rebuilt
the bows and continues to work on her at Faversham.
WILFRED
A steel barge used as a pub on the Embankment.
WILL
The largest barge ever built this steel barge lies on the Medway and is used for static charters.
WHIPPET
A swimheaded lighter rerigged by Reg Coombes at Barking in
the 1980's and now sold to Owen and Rita Emerson and refitting at Upnor.
Non trading barges.
These are craft that are accepted as being Thames sailing barges but
were built as yachts and not for cargo carrying and there are also
a number of other barge style yachts around which are not listed
on this site at present.
Armadillo
Built in ferro-cement by Tim Jepson and originally called Landrail she
is based in Walton Backwaters.
Blackthorn
Built by Owen Emerson in steel she is easilly recognised because
of her high bows. Based at Maldon.
Armadillo
Blackthorn
OTHER BARGES
Dawn - re-build approaching completion, due spring 2007
Edith May is being rebuilt
Ironsides - static charters
Raybel - static charters
Scone October 2003
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