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. Trust in hervey benhams book down topsl, the thames sailing barge trust was founded on 15 april 1952 in the cabin. Laden deep with sugar, with barley, sand or coke, spitties keep on sailin. Britains surviving working craft, a paperback book by paul brown published in association with national historic ships uk.
There is much more information on many of these barges in the sailing barge compendium, published by the society for sailing barge research. Edith may thames sailing barge a brief history thames barge. Barges had been the workhorses of the river, trading into the estuary, around the coast, across the channel and. In the jottings of a thames estuary ditchcrawler we find the skipper looking at how it used to be in the early days of corinthian sailing. Nov 22, 2011 in 1900 the majority of british shipping was still under sail.
A number of aob members attended, with three thames sailing barges. A history and celebration of swimming the river thames by caitlin davies. Thalatta is a thames sailing barge, built in harwich, essex, in 1906 and rebuilt in st osyth in 2012. Arriving at wapping basin in londons former docklands. Thames sailing barge in the upper pool by nigel pepper. She spent some of her life ketchrigged and some of it spritsailrigged.
Its all been said before but it is a truly wonderful experience. A barge is a shoaldraft flatbottomed boat, built mainly for river and canal transport of bulk goods. The thames barge was primarily a utilitarian load carrier, designed to be handled by the smallest crew. If you would like to have a log book for skippers and mates, these cost. They have also extracted barges listed in the 1899 mercantile navy list and published it as a booklet.
Both had 32 shares, but sully was the managing owner, horlock was the skipper. Colin shepheard remembers torbay j class yacht dolphin previously sonnet twinkle 10, 12 and 14 facebook group. 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. These vessels were the backbone of the river transport system before the arrival of steam powered vessels. Also of great help has been david renouf who has provided information and answered my queries via his thames sailing barge web page. Our site is dedicated to researching the history of thames sailing barges and barge builders and the watermen and lightermen who worked on the wharves and docks along the river and travelled the thames from middlesex, kent, surrey and essex to. By proceeding, you consent to our legal notice and. Launched in 1925 and having seen wartime action in ww2 during the period of her trading career, sb will is a firm fixture as a vessel of national importance on the national historic ships register.
Following the thames sailing barge parade on saturday, you are invited to step aboard and learn about their rich history with the popup museum that explores the history of these majestic vessels. 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. Our site is dedicated to researching the history of thames sailing barges and barge builders and the watermen and lightermen who worked on the wharves and docks along the river and travelled the thames from middlesex, kent, surrey and essex to london. Barges had been the workhorses of the river, trading into the estuary, around the coast. Originally barges were towed by draft horses on an adjacent towpath. Her clay shooting cruises are always popular, and now. 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 by kenneth nicholls palmer 1 jan 1997 hardcover.
Her gear and rigging 1st by dennis john davis isbn. Its all been said before but it is a truly wonderful. Thames barge books and other publications for sale by the ssbr. The thames sailing barge parade was created to raise the profile and public awareness of the thames sailing barges and the role that they played in the development of victorian britain. Historical thames sailing barge trustthames sailing. The site embedded below is the home of the thames sailing barge parade where you will find. In 1900 the majority of british shipping was still under sail. Where to see thames sailing barges, and dates of the thames barge matches. 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. Red sails thames sailing barge documentaryold salt blog. Here is the history of river, coasting, stumpie, mulie and ketch barges, with details of their construction. She was the last wooden thames sailing barge to be built. A thames sailing barge was a type of commercial sailing boat common on the river thames in london in the 19th century.
At the same time the work is acknowledged by enthusiasts and operators to be the leading reference book on the current fleet. 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. Thames sailing barge will for hire open tower bridge. Every year, the barges compete in the championship, a series of 8 races held across the east coast. Onboard facilities include pa system, multimedia projector and screen, and sound system with mp3 connection. Bought as a gift for family history research shows individuals connected to the boats and with many. 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. Thames sailing barge last updated december 23, 2019. Raising profile and awareness of the thames sailing barges, their history and their future. Cruising east from tower pier, sailing barge will is the perfect, small venue for corporate entertaining, team building, and intimate parties. The flatbottomed barges were perfectly adapted to the thames estuary, with its shallow waters and narrow rivers. Like all thames barges, she is flatbottomed and has leeboards instead of a keel.
Thames sailing barge foundation is responsible for the thames sailing barge parade tsbp which now occurres biannually as of september 2017. Red sails is a documentary by michael maloney about the remarkable thames sailing barges, which continued to ply their trade well into the 20th century before being replaced by diesel trucks. Greta is a historic and now very rare thames sailing barge that was part of the dunkirk evacuation, its a real privilege to go to sea aboard her. Includes overview, news, sponsorship, history and photos. Likewise the maunsell forts are a piece of history that have to be seen close up to be believed. In aid of thames sailing barge trust and society for sailing barge research.
On the 17th september 2016 nine barges formed a procession and paraded through tower bridge displaying to the assembled crowds these unique vessels. The centre tells the story of the sailing barge from the early 1800s. Many of the books listed are now unavailable except possibly from public libraries. The flatbottomed barges with a shallow draught and leeboards, were perfectly adapted to the thames estuary, with its. It starts off stanfordlehope and finishes off the three daws public house in gravesend on the london river and is open to spritsail rigged thames sailing barges, it uses the same course and rules as were used in the first match in. A thames sailing barge is a type of commercial sailing boat once common on the east coast of britain. A short history of thames barges wednesday 31 august 2016, 3.
Progress on the traditional fishing boat for dungeness. Greta thames sailing barge private trips whitstable. Can be converted to a sailing model, but no details of conversion are given. Bought as a gift for family history research shows individuals. Thames barge, edith may, sailing on topsail and foresail on the river medway a thames sailing barge is a type of commercial sailing boat once common on the river thames in london. Ceremonial barges on the river thames a history of the barges of the city of london livery companies and of the crown.
Edith may thames sailing barge a brief history thames. Send cheque payable to thames sailing barge trust and stamped addressed envelope. It includes a concise history of the surviving craft that once worked under sail, including, of course, thames sailing barges. All the currently active thames sailing barges are. Thames barges at tradboat traditional boats at tradboat. Chapter 15 sailing barges greenwich peninsula history.
Dec 23, 2019 the thames sailing barge match is the second oldest sailing race in the world, beaten only by the americas cup. The bargemen family histories of boat and barge workers. Today, barges may be selfpropelled, usually with a slowrevving diesel engine and a largediameter fixedpitch propeller. Enter your email address to receive alerts when we have new listings available for thames barge for sale. Thames sailing barge parade, london, united kingdom. Red sails thames sailing barge documentary posted on february 4, 2018 by rick spilman red sails is a documentary by michael maloney about the remarkable thames sailing barges, which continued to ply their trade well into the 20th century before being replaced by diesel trucks. However, the river thames spritsail sailing barge, as a cargo carrier, survived until the very end of the age of sail, and these vessels are still to be seen sailing under charter for sail training and leisure activities. Topsail incorporating the thames barge sailing club journal. The barge blog the society for sailing barge research blog. With it you have efficient use of interior space, high stability, and the ability to beach your craft most anywhere.
Top 10 books about the river thames books the guardian. Spritsail barges of thames and medway by march edgar j. The trust aims to educate the public in the history of the thames sailing barge and we work with schools and other. She is now permanently spritsail rigged, and has a. There will be something for all ages to enjoy including. Thames barge the tansailed spritsail barge is one of the few surviving.
Sailing, boat owning and living on a thames spritsail barge have coursed through the veins of the skippers family since the early 1930s, and it instilled in him a profound love for salt, marsh and mud. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. Apr 01, 2016 online shopping from a great selection at books store. Buy the thames sailing barge, oxfam, 0715348876, 9780715348871, books, history. Thames sailing barge the world around, any period in history, if you have a lot of cargo to move, a flatbottom hull is the answer. Drawn with cooperation of the owners from the ships actual lines and sail plan. The journal of the society for spritsail barge research. The sailing barge the vermont sail freight project. Then you can start reading kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer no kindle device required. Lovingly looked after by thames leisure and captain mark tower and earning her keep through corporate and private hire for those lucky enough to. A thames sailing barge is a type of commercial sailing boat once common on the river thames in london. Explore 69 listings for thames barge for sale at best prices.
A thames sailing barge is a type of commercial sailing boat once common on the river. The flatbottomed barges were perfectly adapted to the thames estuary, with its shallow waters and narrow rivers the barges also traded much further afield, to the north of england, the south coast and even to continental european ports. 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. I love it for his accounts of sailing in and out of the thames in the late 19th century, and. Otherwise, dumb barges must be towed by tugs, or pushed by pusher boats. View events sailing barge enthusiasts the trust was previously continued. Most of the surviving fleet are available to charter. The documentary interviews bargemen about their lives aboard the sailing barges and also follows the rebuilding and the relaunching of the thames sailing barge cambria, which was the. The sailing barge association promotes and supports the thames sailing barge, ensuring their unique history and characteristics are recognised and preserved. National historic ships has this piece today about historic sail. Registered charity working for the reconstruction of the cambria, a wooden thames sailing barge, built at greenhithe, kent. The flatbottomed barges with a shallow draught and leeboards, were perfectly adapted to the thames estuary, with its shallow waters and narrow tributary rivers. Welcome to the home page of the web site for the society for sailing barge research. Thames sailing barge wikimili, the free encyclopedia.
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