WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

The Simply Whitstable Web Site

Anglia of London

"Built 1898... For sale 1992... Possible sighting 2004"

• Not known

• b. 1898 by H. Shrubsall at Ipswich for George Ventris & Hibbs of Brightlingsea.
   
• A stackie of 54 tons, 82.3 x 20.3 x 5.6. 
   
• Subsequently sold to Paul's 1940, rebuilt 1946 after war requisition as a mine spotter at Harwich (1941/45).  
   
• Sold by Paul's 1960. Converted and used as a barge yacht from 1961 by M. Burger.
  
• Latterly used as a rigged house barge by G. Reeves at Hoo. 
   
• Known to be for sale in 1992 for £35,000 - believed in poor condition.  

http://www.bargetrust.org 

It was reported as lying close to the old lock gates of the Strood canal and suffering fire damage. Her stern was missing. One of her name boards was reported as being at the Dolphin Museum in Sittingbourne.

Ardwina of London

"Built 1909... Now owned by Ardwina Ltd"

• Peter ? (Surname not known)

• b. 1909,  by Orvis & Fuller at Ipswich for E. J. & W. Goldsmith
   

• 66 tons, 85.1 x 21.1 x 6.4. 

• Sold to Metcalf Motor Coasters Ltd 9th Sept 1942. 
   
• 9th Oct 1950 she was owned by Daniels Bros. (Whitstable) Ltd. And Leonard Vandersyde (Shipbroker) who had equal 32/64 shares. 
   
• 20th July 1951 saw another change in ownership. Daniel Bros. increased their percentage to 48/64th’s and the other 16/64th’s were bought by Barge Master Michael William Blyth. 
   
• 16th Nov 1951 Daniel Bros. became sole owner.
    
• 21st Jan 1959 Bryan Kenneth Herve a company director from Thorpe Bay owned her.
    
• 6th Oct 1961 a photographer from Maldon, Geoffrey Gordon bought her.
   
• Five years later 31st Oct 1966 John Alexander Hunt a designer from Maldon and Frederick Brian Hogben a company director from Hampstead had joint ownership
   
•  Hogben took over sole ownership in Jan 1971. 
   
• Present owners Ardwina Ltd. (1985).
   
• Good photos on  p. 49 Tops’l 28 & p.6 Tops’l 29

http://www.thamesbarge.org.uk/index.html 

Azima of Faversham

"Built 1898... one of the last of the Daniels barge.. sunk in Medway"

• Capt. Alf Fryer & son
   
• 'Sonny' Kelsey

• b. 1898, 50 tons, at Whitstable, for Whitstable Shipping Company (latterly Daniels) 
   
• owned by Daniels until circa 1960 
   
• Auxiliary conversion 1944 
   
• One of the last three barges owned by Daniel's in 1956. Skippers include 'Sonny' Kelsey and Capt. A. Fryer.
     
• Hulked on Quarry Yard, Strood Canal, buried there 1986.  

Cereal of Faversham

"Built 1894... Renamed Lyford Anna late 1940s.... Broken up 1990s"

• Fred Wraight

• b. 1894 at Whitstable, 43 tons, for Daniel's. 
   
• Soon after her launch she was washed ashore at Ramsgate and the crew had to be taken off. 
   
• Skipper was Fred Wraight from 1913.
   
• Absorbed into Daniel’s fleet 1919.
    
• In September 1929, skippered by Albert Fryer with a heavy cargo of sacked grain, she ended up on her port side blocking the entrance to Whitstable harbour. This was caused by the cargo shifting, and she was recovered on the next tide.
   
• Doubled at the end of WW2.
   
• Converted into a barge yacht in the late 1940's by the Whitewall Yard,  re-named Lyford Anna. 
   
• Frank Lucas and family lived aboard. Used as a yacht barge at Pin Mill in the late 1960's. 
   
• Laid up at Faversham by 1980, broken up by mid 1990’s.

Colonia of Harwich

"Built 1897.... Lost off Sheppey in October 1956"

• Arthur Jemmett

• b. 1897 by Felton at Sandwich for Groom, 62 tons. 
   
• Rigged at some time with a hollow wooden sprit. 
   
• Sold by Groom to Cranfield's, who owned her  until just after WW1 when she was sold to Francis & Gilder's. 
   
• Purchased by Daniel's 1950.
   
• Wrecked 1929 (1930?)
   
• October 1956, she was on Pollard's Spit near the Isle of Sheppey when her mainsail was blown away in a gale. She started to take on water and declared a total loss. Her crew were rescued by Southend lifeboat.
    
• The Colonia was last barge to trade under sail in the Medway area.
   
• Bow detail p. 23, Topsail 29, photo plate no.14 E.J. March  

Duluth of Faversham

"Built 1895... Sunk by a mined ship in wartime"

• George James Packman of Albert Street ( See our "Rescue - 1923" and "Bargemen" pages)
   
• Albert Fryer

• b. 1895 at Whitstable for Whitstable Shipping Company, latterly Daniels.
   
• 57 Reg Tons. Spritsail rigged. 
   
• Severely damaged in the Lower Hope in a collision in 1897, salvaged, repaired and returned to trade. 
   
• Sank again in 1912 near the Nore lightship, salvaged, repaired and returned to trade. 
   
• Stranded near Scrapsgate, Sheppey in the great gale of November 1921.
   
• Much engaged in the Channel trade. 
   
• Sank near the Mid-Shoebury Buoy 10 May, 1942 after running over the wreck of a mined steamer skippered by Albert Fryer. (Albert had been aboard Daniels' H.K.D. when she was also mined in January 1942). (MNL 1899: MNL 1916: Us bargemen: Last Berth:)

Edith of Rochester

"Built 1904... In trade 1956.... hulked on the Tamar"

• Arthur Jemmett

b. 1904 at Sittingbourne, 48 tons, for Cary. 

• Third in 1905 & 1906 Medway Match Races. 
   
• Sold to Cremer. Auxiliary conversion 1927, subsequently removed. 
   
• Motor barge conversion 1952. 
  
• Still in trade in 1956, owned by the Faversham Freightage Company, latter day successors to Cremer, for whom she carried corn, coal and timber. 
   
• Hulked on the Tamar after 1960. (Story p. 31, Topsail 30)  

Esther of Faversham

"Built 1900... a house barge in 1979.... hulked at West Hoo 1993"

• Percy Wildish

• b. 1900 at Faversham by Alfred White Junior, 43 tons, for Mrs Emma Seager.
   
• She passed on to John Horsford during WW1 and then Cremer  (latterly the Faversham Freightage Company). 
   
• Sold again to Daniels, and finally to Sticking. 
   
• Auxiliary conversion 1953, motor barge from 1953 - 1960. 
   
• Used as a house barge at Wouldham in 1979. 
   
• Hulked at West Hoo Creek by 1993. Davits on port side. 
  
• (Photo p. 17, Topsail 34)  

Kathleen of Rochester

"Built 1900.... Hulked in Holland.... Future Uncertain"

• Walter Kelsey (skipper) and William Kelsey (mate) pre-1928 
• Fred Wraight accompanied by his son (Fred) from 1928.

• b. 1901 by Glovers' at Gravesend, 53 tons. Sails made by Goldfinch. 
   
• Sold to Whitstable Shipping Company in 1909 (latterly Daniel Bros)
   
• A removable tie beam was fitted across the main hatch in WW1 to allow long lengths of timber to be loaded easily. 
   
• Thorough refit mid-1944 at Daniel's' yard. Her skipper since 1928 at this time was F.W. Wraight with son Fred as mate. 
   
• During the summer of 1945 she was one of the early barges to load straw from Colchester Hythe to Lloyd Paper Mills at Sittingbourne. 
   
• Converted to an auxiliary in late 1945 at Whitstable. She worked dry cargoes all of her working life.
    
• Motor barge conversion 1954, later used as a timber lighter by Browns.
    
• Re-rigged in 1965 by Richard Walsh as a barge yacht. 
    
• Used as a house barge in the Netherlands in 1970's.
    
•  Hulked in the Netherlands. 
   
• Other owners include London and Rochester Trading Company and Dr. Murphy (1968). 
   
• Photo 1954 inside cover Tps’l 35  

• Along with two other Whitstable barges (the Why Not and W H Randall), she was hit and sunk by a Cunarder on the Thames in 1923. Her skipper, (Walter Kelsey) and mate (William Kelsey) were rescued from the water by skipper of the Why Not. Kathleen was presumably raised and repaired. Details of the tragedy are given on our "Rescue - 1923" page. 
   
• Washed off the slip at the boatyard of Anderson, Rigden and Perkins during the flood of 1953. She damaged some of the boatyard buildings. The story is related by John Wraight in our "Barges in the Flood Page".

http://www.chaffcutter.com 

The Kathleen is also mentioned at the Thames Sailing Barge Organisation web site at:

http://www.thamesbarge.org.uk/index.html 

This site mentions that barge plans for the Kathleen were published in the book "Spritsail Barges of Thames and Medway" by Edgar J. March (ISBN 0 7154 4681 4)

Lord Churchill of Faversham

"Built 1888... a house boat by 1960s..... outcome unknown"

• 'Dolly' Nicholls 

• b. 1888 by Harvey at Littlehampton as a ketch of 60 tons, 84' 6" L.O.A., beam 21' 1", depth 6' 9". 
   
• Worked to the Rhine and the West Country under original owners, English & Continental Shipping Co. 
   
• Rerigged as a spritsail barge 1901 when bought by the Whitstable Shipping Company (latterly absorbed into Daniels) for use in Channel trade. 
   
• Skippered by 'Dolly' Nicholls around WW1. 
   
• Sold for a yacht conversion, then used as a house barge at Cubitt's yacht basin from 1964, and Whitewall Creek circa 1985. 
   
• Other owners include  Hawkins. 
   
• Bow detail p.49, Tps’l 19  

Major of Harwich

"Built 1897.... Sunk in the Thames in September 1962" 

• George Baker, followed by George Faint.
• Jack & Peter Josh.

• b. 1897 at Harwich as a boomie of 67 tons for Groom’s. 
   
• Hatches were narrow with wide deck walks. Fitted with a coaster type centre pawl windlass (river barges had side pawl windlasses). 
   
• Spent much of her early years in Channel trade. 
   
• Livery at one time was tarred hull, royal blue rails and transom with gold sheer lines and scrolls, the insides of the rails being bright green. The name on the bow was in gold set upon a green flag. Blocks and crosstrees were silver.
   
• Converted to a spritsail barge in 19??. 
  
• Requisitioned as a munitions barge during WW2 and returned to her owners in poor condition. 
   
• Broke away from her moorings in September, 1946 at Whitstable and ran onto the beach. As a result, in 1948, she had a major refit at Anderson’s of Whitstable including an auxiliary conversion and being doubled. 
   
• Skippers with Daniel’s after WW2 were George Baker, followed by George Faint. 
  
• Carried a wheelhouse in 1950’s.
   
• Sunk in the Thames estuary, 29 September 1962.
   
• Other owners include  Chaplin, and Anderson & Co. 
  

Note: Groom used landmarks in his career as names for his barges - Major, Justice, Mayor and Alderman.  Dannebrog marked his receipt of the Danish distinction of that name. 

Northdown of London

"Built at Andersons, Whitstable in 1924.... now in France?"

• Not known

• 2nd in 1929 Thames Match Race
   
•  winner 1929 and 3rd 1938 Medway events, coasting class.
   
• Motor barge conversion 1942.
   
• Re-rigged 1972 for use as a static reception barge in St. Katherine’s Dock by Wrightson, who bought her in 1970. 
   
• Laid up at Faversham 1986. 
   
• Other owners include  Whiting Bros. (1939),  London and Rochester Trading Company, and Galbraith. 
   
• Bow detail p.21 Tpsl 30  

http://www.thamesbarge.org.uk/index.html 

She is last reported as being an exhibit at le Port Musee, Duarnenez, France. 

Pretoria of Faversham

"Built 1902... House barge 1980... Hulked 1986... No trace 1994"

• Charlie Frake
• Chris Merritt

• b. 1902 by Cremer's at Hollowshore, Oare Creek Faversham for their own fleet, 44 tons
    
• Merged into Faversham Freightage Company after WW2 and then into Daniel's fleet.
   
• Skippers include Charlie Frake.
   
• Barge yacht conversion 1954.
   
• House barge in Colliers Reach, 1980's. 
   
• Hulked in Colliers Reach 1986. No trace in 1994. Owners include Horncastle.

Savoy of Dover

"Built 1898... run down in 1961.... became house barge... broken up"

• Norman (Nornie) Coleman who lived on Island Wall. 
• Later George Fryer with son (Alf) as mate

• b. 1898 by Gill at Rochester for Crundall's, 69 tons 
   
• had the misfortune of having a 10 ton block of stone slip from the strop of a crane and go right through her bottom! The keelson was repaired with another placed on top and the ceiling doubled. Prior to this her sides had already been doubled. 
   
• Crundall's skippers include Bill 'Gooseberry' Foster who took her on regular trips to the continent between Hook of Holland and St. Malo. 
   
• Sold to Daniel's 1924. 
   
• In 1942, she was skippered by George Fryer with son Alf as mate.
   
•  Still trading with Daniel's in 1954. 
   
• Run down 1961, raised and sold out of trade, 
    
• Converted for use as a house barge at Wouldham and subsequently broken up there. 
   
• Note: davits were on port side. Bow badge detail p. 44, Tpsl 28. Good photo centre Tpsl 30.  

Spartan of London

"Steel barge.... broken up in 1972"

• Not known

• b. J.G. Fay, Woolston, Southampton for Goldsmith. 

• Steel. 85.3ft x 21.6ft x 6.4ft. 
   
• Broken up at Rochester 1972.  

Thomas & Frances of Rochester

"Derelict & cannibalised, she ended her days in a firework display "

• Horace Kelsey(skipper)
• Chris Merritt ( skipper in 1935)

• b. 1878 by W. B. Spencelaugh at Crown Quay, Sittingbourne for use in the hoy trade - 37 tons, 74' L.O.A., beam 14' 6", hold depth 5' 0" . 
   
• Sold in 1916 to Daniel's where a some time skipper was Horace Kelsey. 
  
• Chris Merritt was her skipper in 1935. 
   
• She was stripped of most of her gear in 1939 for possible use as a harbour blockship. Then laid up by 1944 at Whitstable and cannibalised to keep others in the fleet working. 
  
• Hulked at Murston Quay. Other owners include Honey, and Dan.  

John Harman has related the detailed end of the Thomas & Frances. In the late 1940s and for some years, she rested in a derelict state in the corner of the East Quay.

In 1951, she was towed as a hulk to the South Bank in London to be used at the  FESTIVAL of BRITAIN. It is believed that she was eventually part of a fireworks display and was finally burnt. 

As John has points out, many old boats ended their days as entertainment in this way.

Trilby of Dover

"Hoy barge... grain carrier... house boat... now a Brentford mystery"

• Chris Merritt (skipper) & son Colin (mate) circa 1950 

• b. 1896 by Felton at Sandwich for John B Joyce, 
   
• 53 tons, Spritsail rigged, used as a hoy barge.
   
• Legend on Transom reads “Triby Sandwich Port of Dover” 
   
• Sold to East Kent Brewery, then to Daniel's in 1924 for work in the grain trade. 
   
• Salvaged after being stranded on Buxey Sand 1st January 1944 
   
• Later converted to a motor barge, as well as increasing her length and beam as a twin screw motor barge at Sittingbourne in 1947
   
• Later converted to a motor barge, as well as increasing her length and beam as a twin screw motor barge at Sittingbourne in 1947 after being salvaged 
   
• Skippered by Chris Merritt around 1950 with his son Colin as mate.
   
• Latterly used as a house barge at Cheyne Walk 1954. 
   
• Derelict at Watermans Park Brentford and broken up in 1963. [MNL 1899: Topsail17*: Topsail 20*: Us Bargemen: Spritsailed Barges of Thames & Medway*: MNL 1916: :  Last Berth:]

In 2004, a barge called "Trilby" was discussed in the "forum" section of the Barge Trust organisation web site at http://www.bargetrust.org . She was said to be lying at Brentford and in a bad way and, as a big vessel, would require a massive repair undertaking.

This caused us some confusion for us. However, John White solved our problem by pointing out that there were, in fact, two barges named Trilby. The other vessel was Trilby of Rochester. This was built in 1896  at Rochester (54 Reg Tons) by George W Gill and rebuilt at Sittingbourne in 1974 (new tonnage 110 net, 153 gross, 96.8 ft in length and hold depth of 8 ft). She was the last wooden barge in trade and ended her working life in September 1980. She was last reported derelict at Waterman's Park, Brentford. [MNL 1899: MNL1916: Coaster Crew List D637: Down Topsail: Cement Mud & Muddies: Us Bargemen:Topsail 17*:  Last Berth:] 

There is no evidence that Trilby of Rochester had any strong connections with Whitstable.

Vicunia of London

"Built 1912..... burned in 1995"

• Horace Kelsey with brother Alf as mate

• b. 1912 by Shrubsall at East Greenwich for their own fleet, 75 tons. 
   
• Also owned by Daniel's, where her skippers included Horace Kelsey with brother Alf as mate.
   
• Converted to an auxiliary in 1940 with a Kelvin 66 h.p. engine.
   
• Converted to a full motor barge with the addition of a second engine in the late 1940's when all of her sailing gear was taken out.
   
• During her later years she was owned jointly with Harold Andrews of Sittingbourne. 
   
• Sold to absentee French owners, she was laid up at Heybridge. 
   
• Still afloat (just!) at Heybridge Basin in the spring of 1995, she was towed out onto the saltings at Maldon Promenade Creek and burnt. 
   
• Other owners include  G. Andrews (1932),  London and Rochester Trading Company (1958), and G. Swift (1967).  

Violet of Maldon

"Built 1889... became a barge yacht... whereabouts now unkown"

• Fred Pettitt (pre-1939)
• Chris Merritt

• b. 1889 by Howard's at Maldon, a stackie of 45 tons, for William E. Bentall, an Essex ironfounder.
   
• Distinguished by a carved badge of oak leaves on her bows. Identical barge to Hyacinth (1889) from the same builder.
   
•  Sold to George Littlebury of Colchester in 1894.
    
• She was then sold to E. Marriage & Son of East Mills, Colchester, and then sold on again to Francis & Gilder's. 
   
• Later became one of Daniel's fleet, where her skippers include Fred Pettitt pre-1939. 
   
• Laid up in 1951. Last known as a barge yacht at Brambletree Wharf.  

Note: A barge called "VIOLET" is mentioned in the "Active Barge" section of the The Barge Trust web site at....

 http://www.bargetrust.org 

She is reported to be on the Medway but has "not been underway for 20 years or more". However, several barges are known to have been named "Violet".

W H Randall

"Severely Damaged in 1923 - Outcome not known"

• Not Known

• b.1876 at Sittingbourne for William Randall. 
  
• 44 Reg Tons, Spritsail rigged
   
• Other Owners Include: Thomas Spillett of Ramsgate in 1893, Whitstable Shipping Co. in 1899 & 1916, Daniels Bros. of Whitstable 1916
  
• 1923 hit by the Cunarder SS Virgilia near Greenwich. Towed ashore and broken up at Whitstable. [MNL 1893: MNL1899: MNL1916: East Coast Sail*: Last Berth: ]

Why Not

"Sunk in a collision off Northfleet in 1932"

• George James Packman of Albert Street ( See our "Rescue - 1923" and "Bargemen" pages)
• Jack 'Farmer' Packman with Alf Kelsey as mate. 

• b.1866 at Faversham by J Usher of Faversham for his own use.
  
• 38 Reg Tons, Spritsail rigged 
   
• Other Owners Include: 1890’s Sold to Whistable Shipping Co.& in 1899 & Daniels Bros of Whitstable in 1916. 
   
• Broken up 1938 at Rosherville, Northfleet. 
   
• Ran aground off West Beach, Whitstable with a cargo of Quaker Oats.
   
• One of three Whitstable barges involved in a collision with the Cunarder 'Virgilia' near Greenwich on 6th March, 1923. Why Not received only light damage to her stern. The s.b. Kathleen was sunk, and s.b. W.H. Randall damaged. The Cunarder continued on her voyage of destruction into Talbot's barge roads, damaging several lighters and setting others adrift, before running herself ashore by Wood's Wharf.  
   
• Sometime in WW2 a plane from No. 63 R.A.F. Training Squadron based at Joyce Green, flying very low over Long Reach crashed onto her deck. The pilot was killed and the observer injured. Why Not's standing rigging and spars were badly damaged but, fortunately, a tug from the Cory Company was nearby and lashed her alongside to tow her to the shore where she was beached. 
   
• Ended her days at Black Jack's, Rosherville where a recluse built a bulkhead in her hold and lived aboard her for a number of years. O.S. Ref: TQ.625.747. Master Lissenden 31/03/1901. [1901 Census:  MNL 1893: MNL1899: Barge Builders of the Swale: East Coast Sail: Sprits’l: Us Bargemen:  Last Berth: ]

Xylonite of Harwich

"Built of steel 1926... now owned by the Cirdan Trust "

• Not a locally owned vessel

• b. 1926 by Mistley Shipbuilding Co. at Mistley for F. W. Horlock, steel hull of 68 tons
    
• First master was Theophilus Horlock(grandfather of Theo Horlock).
    
• Her name was changed on the day of launching from B.X. to Xylonite. 
   
• Still in Horlock's ownership in 1949. 
   
• Converted to a motor barge in the 1950's. 
   
• Sold to Greenhithe Lighterage in 1955 
   
• Since rerigged by Tim Eliff as a full sailing barge and a regular East Coast Match Race competitor, as well as a charter barge.
   
• Other owners include Tester.  
  
• Owned by Cirdan Trust since 1985 and now based at Maldon as a community service barge. 

For further information visit the Thames Sailing Barge organisation web site ("Active Barges") at:

http://www.thamesbarge.org.uk/index.html 

and the Cirdan & Faramir Sailing Trusts Web Site at: 

http://www.cirdan-faramir.co.uk/home.htm