It includes a concise history of the surviving craft that once worked under sail, including, of course, thames sailing barges. Jul 28, 2016 the thames sailiing barge edith may was built for her original owners, william barrett of leytonstone and captain howard, her first skipper, before being sold to alfred sully, who managed the barge from just after the great war. This is the last remains of a thames sailing barge which was a type of commercial sailing boat common on the river thames in the century. Historical thames sailing barge trustthames sailing barge trust. Wow, here is a lot of great insight on a working boat that used to be common as dirt on the thamesvirtually the equivalent of the semi truck back in its day. The following message from topsail charters outlines what happened at that meeting and at a gathering this morning of barge operators. Welcome to the home page of the web site for the society for sailing barge research.
Spend a day or evening on a historic wooden sailing vessel built in 1923, the thames sailing barge lady daphne, and have tower. Topsail incorporating the thames barge sailing club journal. There is much more information on many of these barges in the sailing barge compendium, published by the society for sailing barge research. Now in its eighth edition,the illustrated guide to thames sailing barges is an ideal introduction for those readers wishing to find out about the history and development of these iconic red sailed vessels. The association of bargemen was set up to promote the enjoyment of thames sailing barges and to support and promote the interests of the thames sailing barge community. We publish books, calendars, cards, novelties and pictures, including the acclaimed.
With topsail there really is something for everyone and with new dates added all the time, youll be sure to find the right trip for you. Seven historic sailing barges have taken part in the 110th medway sailing barge match. A thames sailing barge is a type of commercial sailing boat once common on the river. The thames barges come pretty largeup to 80 feetand have many design features required by our route. The illustrated guide to thames sailing barges ninth edition. Their heyday came at the turn of the 20th century when over 2,000 were on the shipping registry and working in and around the thames estuary and the old london docks.
The illustrated guide to thames sailing barges, 2011, peter. The thames barge design had evolved over many centuries but was refined during the nineteenth century. They were used to lighter cargo from ships to the wharves along the banks of the rivers in the developing ports of london and rochester. The history of the thames sailing barge trust tsbt the trust was previously a private members club the thames barge sailing club, formed by a few enthusiasts who realised that they were witnessing the end of sail on london river the thames. Edith may thames sailing barge a brief history thames barge. Arriving at wapping basin in londons former docklands. There are a couple of dutch sailing barges in the range also. Historical thames sailing barge trustthames sailing. I recently read this detailed analysis on thames sailing barge physics. Oct 02, 2018 ceremonial barges on the river thames a history of the barges of the city of london livery companies and of the crown. We sail in the swale estuary, a superb area for bird watching, photography, painting. Ceremonial barges on the river thames a history of the barges of the city of london livery companies and of the crown. Thames barges played a vitally important part in the life of east essex by making use of the many creeks and inlets to collect the produce from the farms and take it to the markets.
During the 17th and 18th centuries thames sailing barges played an important role in ferrying cargo to and from ships to the london wharves. Inspired by a mention of the norfolk wherry trust in hervey benhams book down topsl, the thames sailing barge trust was founded on 15 april 1952 in the cabin of the sailing barge george smeed, anchored at blacktail spit in the thames estuary. This list contains barges that were recorded in mercantile navy lists. Thames sailing barges peter phillips, rita phillips understand counselling will give you a clear understanding of the main counselling theories and help you develop vital counselling skills. Thames sailing barge cambria cambria barge charter. By the 1890s the development of the thames sailing barge was at its peak with the small coasters built in ipswich and harwich developing a style of their own.
The flatbottomed barges were perfectly adapted to the thames estuary, with its shallow waters and narrow rivers. They have also extracted barges listed in the 1899 mercantile navy list and published it as a booklet. The sailing barge association promotes and supports the thames sailing barge, ensuring their unique history and characteristics are recognised and preserved. These vessels were the backbone of the river transport system before the. Good news today that last nights meeting of the council changed its view after so many people expressed their opinion that it would mean the end for thames sailing barges at maldon. This is the last remains of a thames sailing barge which was a type of commercial sailing boat common on the river thames in the 19th century.
Shop thames sailing barge trustthames sailing barge trust. Thames sailing barge wikimili, the free encyclopedia. One barge still in sail in the 1990s but not greenwich built is xylonite. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. A thames sailing barge is a type of commercial sailing boat once common on the east coast of britain. Inspired by a mention of the norfolk wherry trust in hervey benhams book down topsl, the thames sailing barge trust was founded on.
The thames sailing barge became the classic small working craft of all the rivers and creeks of the thames estuary and the essex coast and some of the bigger ones undertook voyages to the south coast and near continent as well. A newcomers guide to sail handling and working practices aboard the sailing barge pudge. At the same time the work is acknowledged by enthusiasts and operators to be the leading reference book on the current fleet. These vessels were the backbone of the river transport system before the arrival of steam powered vessels. You are welcome to post and comment about anything in connection with the history or sightings of her anywhere not just on the thames. Chapter 15 sailing barges greenwich peninsula history. The origins of the thames sailing barge lie in the 17th and 18th centuries when flatbottomed wooden craft evolved for use in the river thames and its kent neighbour the river medway. Our 1 hour medway river trip is the perfect way to get an introduction to barge sailing, whilst taking in the historic sights of the upriver medway. Thames sailing barges thames barge essex family history. Spritsail barges of thames and medway by march edgar j. History of the surviving working sailing vessels the barge blog.
The barge blog the society for sailing barge research blog. Their barges would pick up cargoes from farms and rural wharves, from creeks and backwaters, from local ports and harbours, and sail through the channels and swatchways of the thames estuary and up the london river to the docks. The thames sailing barges that had so evolved were actually coasting craft capable of taking cargo that arrived in london from all over the empire and delivering it along the coast. In fact, after the clubs formation in 1855 some of the earliest entered vessels were thames sailing barges. The spritsail and the leeboards are both of dutch origin and can be traced back to 1416 and. We organise regular social meetings, boat rallies and technical seminars. Explore our vast range of ever changing public trips including food cruises, race days and weekends away. Chapter 15 sailing barges somewhere between the nineteenth and twentieth centuries the massive thames ship building industry moved, or was sent, to the north of england and scotland. National historic ships has this piece today about historic sail. At the same time the work is acknowledged by enthusiasts and operators to be the leading reference book. Oral history project the thames sailing barge trust as part of the work to meet the requirements of pudges hlf grant have agreed to do an oral history project as a way of remembering whilst we still can any stories from sailing barge skippers and mates who worked in the last days of trade. The book that he eventually wrote incorporating a thames barge was coot club, and the barge was called welcome of rochester. This image is a gnu image and is not subject to this site although conditions apply to its use. Launched in 1892 greta is one of the oldest remaining thames sailing barges left in britain.
Apr 01, 2016 online shopping from a great selection at books store. Medway river trip take in the historic sights of medway. Top 10 books about the river thames books the guardian. Only a few entries for this have been transcribed, where they clarify the history of a particular barge. Her gear and rigging 1st by dennis john davis isbn. H rider haggard wrote of the dengie marshes in his book rural england. Barges had been the workhorses of the river, trading into the estuary, around the coast. She owed her long life as a viable coastal trader largely to her characteristic gear and rigging, and it is to this lessdocumented aspect of the thames sailing barge that this book is mainly devoted. These pages are provided by the society for its members and those interested in the history of the thames sailing barges of the east coast of england.
See more ideas about sailing ships, sailing and tall ships. Registered charity working for the reconstruction of the cambria, a wooden thames sailing barge, built at greenhithe, kent. Development of sailing barges thames sailing barge. Until they were replaced by modern shipping and cargo methods, sailing barges plied their trade on the uks waterways. Thames barge books and other publications for sale by the ssbr. Click details for more information about the source of the data. The illustrated guide to thames sailing barges haftad. These could prototypicaly appear on a british layout.
The early 20th century saw the number of thames sailing barges increase with over 2000 registered in britain. Britains surviving working craft, a paperback book by paul brown published in association with national historic ships uk. This book represents the culmination of 50 years ongoing research into the details and fate of over 4000 thames sailing barges. The journal of the society for spritsail barge research. The flatbottomed barges with a shallow draught and leeboards, were perfectly adapted to the thames estuary, with its shallow waters and narrow tributary rivers. With a maximum of 12 passengers per trip, the crew are happy to engage and share the history of thames sailing barges and specifically, the beautiful edith may.
The sailing barge the vermont sail freight project. She was built in 1926 as a bulk acid carrier and named after her owners main product, the first plastic, british xylonite. Thames barges played a vitally important part in the life of east essex by making use. The thames sailiing barge edith may was built for her original owners, william barrett of leytonstone and captain howard, her first skipper, before being sold to alfred sully, who managed the barge from just after the great war. Thames barges played a vitally important part in the life of east essex by making use of the many creeks and inlets to collect the produce from. Most of the surviving fleet are available to charter. Dec 23, 2019 a thames sailing barge is a type of commercial sailing boat once common on the river thames in london. A brief history of the development of the sailing barge is followed by the main section of the book. They are in pursuit of their friends who are aboard the yacht teasel. It was cheaper to build iron ships there because of the easy availability of coal and iron. We are always happy to hear from people interested in the association and with thames sailing barges. Jan 16, 20 national historic ships has this piece today about historic sail.
All entries have been transcribed if they are thought to be for a thames sailing barge. Every year, the barges compete in the championship, a series of 8 races held across the east coast. The horlock family owned many barges, trading along the suffolk and essex coast, across to north kent and up the thames to london. This is a must have book for all scratchbuild barge modellers. Nick ardley lovingly weaves his yarns of traditional sailing with his own reminiscences and detailed knowledge of the places and waterways that they encounter. A thames sailing barge is a type of commercial sailing boat once common on the river thames in london.