The journal of the society for spritsail barge research. Likewise the maunsell forts are a piece of history that have to be seen close up to be believed. There is much more information on many of these barges in the sailing barge compendium, published by the society for sailing barge research. Thames sailing barge last updated december 23, 2019. Cruising east from tower pier, sailing barge will is the perfect, small venue for corporate entertaining, team building, and intimate parties. Typically mounted in pairs on each side of a hull, leeboards function much like a centreboard, allowing shallow draft craft to ply waters fixed keel boats cannot. 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. 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. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. A personal record of the thirty three matches by jack haste taken from the book pin mill sailing club sixty years by renee m waite, printed 1995. Thames river cruise on barge magna carta, cruise from. Explore 65 listings for thames barge for sale at best prices. I think it is probably the most sophisticated and refined machine that i have ever experienced. History of the river thames scroll down its the longest river in england, spanning 215 miles, all the way from the cotsworlds, passing through picturesque villages, market towns and the huge expanse that is london, before reaching its final destination of the north sea.
Thames barge race winners recorded in a 1907 london diary. Historical thames sailing barge trustthames sailing. The flatbottomed barges with a shallow draught and leeboards, were perfectly adapted to the thames estuary, with its shallow waters and narrow tributary rivers. Inspire a love of reading with prime book box for kids discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books every 1, 2, or 3 months new customers receive 15% off your first box. Fred was very thorough and he took many hours to hone the hull of this model on a vice in his shed. Thames river cruise on barge magna carta, cruise from hampton. You can also purchase gift vouchers by clicking here. Her gear and rigging 1st by dennis john davis isbn. 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. 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. Only one, however, the leeward, is used at a time, as it does not get lifted from the water when the boat heels under the force of the wind.
There is the sailing barge metta catharina from wooden boat designs by christian nielsen, isbn 0684164329 not exactly a thames barge but close. 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. Onboard facilities include pa system, multimedia projector and screen, and sound system with mp3 connection. 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. Within this timeless milieu, barge magna carta uniquely immerses its passengers into an atmosphere both antique and modern, unknown and familiar. The bargemen transcribed documents to help trace your. 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. In aid of thames sailing barge trust and society of sailing barge research tickets. Inspiration to build a detailed replica of a thames sailing barge came from an illustration from a book which his wife had bought for him as a present. I had the pleasure of a weekend charter on the 85 barge repertor a few years ago. The early 20th century saw the number of thames sailing barges increase with over 2000 registered in britain.
Thames sailing barges at leigh 43pp published privately. The larger barges were seaworthy vessels, and were the largest sailing vessel to be handled by just two men. Her clay shooting cruises are always popular, and now. Arriving at wapping basin in londons former docklands. 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. All entries have been transcribed if they are thought to be for a thames sailing barge.
She was used to carry various cargoes mainly grain until 1952, when a diesel engine was fitted, after which she was used in various thames sailing barge matches, winning several. Chapter 15 sailing barges greenwich peninsula history. Edith may thames sailing barge a brief history thames. The horlock family owned many barges, trading along the suffolk and essex coast, across to north kent and up the thames to london.
Covid 19 update our sailing season is scheduled continue reading welcome. Topsail incorporating the thames barge sailing club journal. These vessels were the backbone of the river transport system before the arrival of steam powered vessels. Edith may thames sailing barge a brief history thames barge. 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. A little bit of history and some interesting facts. A guide to sail handling and working practices on the sailing barge pudge. Click details for more information about the source of the data. Covid 19 update our sailing season is scheduled continue reading. Despite the advance in technology by 1939 the humble thames barge played a vital role in the conduct of the second world war. Trust in hervey benhams book down topsl, the thames sailing barge trust was founded on 15 april 1952 in the cabin.
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. Often these are run over a weekend, you board on friday evening and return on sunday afternoon. Thames sailing barge parade, london, united kingdom. A thames sailing barge is a type of commercial sailing boat once common on the river.
Thames sailing barge will for hire open tower bridge. At the same time the work is acknowledged by enthusiasts and operators to be the leading reference book on the current fleet. The book that he eventually wrote incorporating a thames barge was coot club, and the barge was called welcome of rochester. Their heyday came at the turn of the 20th century when over 2,000 were on the shipping registry and working in and around. Enter your email address to receive alerts when we have new listings available for thames barge for sale. Get premium, high resolution news photos at getty images. 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. Obviously importing goods into the country was difficult and achieved at the cost of many lives and ships.
In 1952 an auxiliary engine was fitted and from this time until she was sold out of trade, in january 1961, she operated as a motor barge, skippered by bob childs, a local bargeman. The flatbottomed barges were perfectly adapted to the thames estuary, with its shallow waters and narrow rivers. It was cheaper to build iron ships there because of the easy availability of coal and iron. Topsail charters thames sailing barges, barge cruises. Launched in 1892 greta is one of the oldest remaining thames sailing barges left in britain. The thames barge was primarily a utilitarian load carrier, designed to be handled by the smallest crew. Maldon cruises, brightlingsea cruises, london cruises, ipswich. This list contains barges that were recorded in mercantile navy lists. 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. Bargee will everard and the second crew member of a thames sailing barge at work on deck, 1943. 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. She was a museum ship for a time, and was restored in 2010 to offer charter trips on the. Barges had been the workhorses of the river, trading into the estuary, around the coast, across the channel and. 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.
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. For further information on a specific trip, click the arrow. As an individual or small group you can join others to make up a crew of 12 on one of our public sails. A thames sailing barge is a type of commercial sailing boat once common on the east coast of britain. The last hurrah thames barges go to war despite the advance in technology by 1939 the humble thames barge played a vital role in the conduct of the second world war. The trust aims to educate the public in the history of the thames sailing barge and we work with schools and other. 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.
Dec 23, 2019 the thames sailing barge match is the second oldest sailing race in the world, beaten only by the americas cup. Includes overview, news, sponsorship, history and photos. Bought as a gift for family history research shows individuals connected to the boats and with many. View events sailing barge enthusiasts the trust was previously continued. Barges had been the workhorses of the river, trading into the estuary, around the coast. Also of great help has been david renouf who has provided information and answered my queries via his thames sailing barge web page. A thames sailing barge is a type of commercial sailing boat once common on the river thames in london. Greta thames sailing barge private trips whitstable.
Historical thames sailing barge trustthames sailing barge trust. Lovingly looked after by thames leisure and captain mark tower and earning her keep through corporate and private hire for those lucky enough to. The summer of 1962 ended one hundred years of sailing barge racing on the thames and barge enthusiasts believed it to be the end of a unique sailing activity. Send cheque payable to thames sailing barge trust and stamped addressed envelope. Barge index iii an index of barges referenced in frank carrs book sailing barges.
A thames sailing barge was a type of commercial sailing boat common on the river thames in london in the 19th century. Leeboard deployed on a thames sailing barge on the east swin the centennial a 1979 ted brewer sharpie fitted with leeboards a leeboard is a form of pivoting keel used by a sailboat in lieu of a fixed keel. This image is a gnu image and is not subject to this site although conditions apply to its use. The greta thames sailing barge was built in 1892 at brightlingsea, essex by stones. 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. Raising profile and awareness of the thames sailing barges, their history and their future. In april 1934 ransome cruised the broads again researching the story in his head. The flatbottomed barges with a shallow draught and leeboards, were perfectly adapted to the thames estuary, with its. 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. A thames river cruise aboard barge magna carta is a study in contrasts both great and small, as the river thames is akin to an ancient history book with pages still being written. Only a few entries for this have been transcribed, where they clarify the history of a particular barge. Apr 01, 2016 online shopping from a great selection at books store. Explore our vast range of ever changing public trips including food cruises, race days and weekends away. Some books used have included frank carr, sailing barges, london, 1931, and david and elizabeth wood, the last berth of a sailorman, ssbr, 1996, which included an excellent bibliographic essay.
Bob in his retirement, wrote the book, rochester barges a must for all literary enthusiasts on barging matters. Welcome to the home page of the web site for the society for sailing barge research. They have also extracted barges listed in the 1899 mercantile navy list and published it as a booklet. Her gear and rigging hardcover january 1, 1970 by dennis j davis author. Bird watching cruises, weekend cruises, barge race cruises, day sails, history cruises. 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. Ceremonial barges on the river thames a history of the barges of the city of london livery companies and of the crown. You can choose from a wide range of cruises, from bird watching to weekend breaks, you can find them below. Edith may is a wooden thames sailing barge built in harwich, essex, in 1906. There is a well equipped galley and food supplies are included for sat and sun. Operational managers for two historic vessels thames sailing barge edith may and whitstable oyster smack thistle f86 were a small family business, dedicated to promoting the historic east coast fleet of smacks and barges and providing high quality experiences and events aboard these historic vessels. A leeboard is a form of pivoting keel used by a sailboat in lieu of a fixed keel. Thames sailing barge wikimili, the free encyclopedia. In fact, after the clubs formation in 1855 some of the earliest entered vessels were thames sailing barges.
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