Comments on: The Raybel At Sittingbourne

By: Dave Hunt

Dave Hunt — Thu, 09 Sep 2021 17:21:09 +0000

An excellent series of pictures of the restoration of Raybel – there are very few Thames sailing barges left, so each one restored is a vital connection to the nautical past of the Thames and Essex/Suffolk/Kent regions for which the barges were a vital part of the economy. Much more interesting stuff on the websites of the Society for Sailing Barge research – and the Thames Sailing Barge Trust

By: Marcia Howard

Marcia Howard — Wed, 21 Jul 2021 19:57:45 +0000

Wonderful!

By: Chris Webb

Chris Webb — Fri, 16 Jul 2021 12:50:44 +0000

I was talking to someone only recently about Thames barges and I mentioned that I had read somewhere why they had dark red sails, something to do with them being treated to prevent them rotting. We were wondering why all sails weren’t treated in the same way. Does anyone else know?

It’s good to see there are people with both the skills and willingness to carry out restorations such as this.

By: Richard Smith

Richard Smith — Fri, 16 Jul 2021 11:16:27 +0000

A wonderful and fascinating read today thank you so much for telling us about the Raybel. What skills and knowledge must those craftsmen hold! I now know that paraffin and cooking oil make a good wood preservative too. Thank you.

By: paul loften

paul loften — Fri, 16 Jul 2021 10:27:54 +0000

How fortunate they are to be involved in this wonderful restoration project. A mixture of many skills, carpentry is only one. I once met an old bargebuilder who built them during the war, in the course of my work . He told me he had written a book on the subject .He vividly described to me , by swinging and old adze he had standing in the corner of his room how he would carve out the inside to shape with the adze. There wasnt much space but there he was swinging it above his head . I need not have feared he was so skillful at using it .
I used to see the barges go up and down the River Lea when I was a child, laden with coal and wood to and from the vast James Latam wood yard on its banks at Clapton . Next to it stod a coal depot with huge coal silos. When the barge would dock the silos would open up and pour into the barge with a roar . Sometimes they would use horses to draw the barge although many had their own power . They were usually steered by a cheerful pilot who would give us children standing on the banks a friendly wave as it slowly passed by

By: Steve Hanscomb

Steve Hanscomb — Fri, 16 Jul 2021 08:07:15 +0000

A really great read and some wonderful photographs! These craft were such an important part of our maritime history.
I’d encourage anyone remotely interested in tracking down one of Bob Roberts’ books, the last commercial skipper of an entirely sail powered barge – the Cambria. He was also well known for his knowledge of sea shanties and songs, and there are several recordings of him singing them, accompanied by his evocative melodian playing. Super stuff.
Newly opened is the Dolphin Sailing Barge Museum, 17 Crown Quay, Sittingborne, Kent. I say newly opened as it is a recent replacement of the old museum at Dolphin Quay, on Milton Creek.
If any of the readers had the pleasure of visiting the old museum, it was located in the sail loft of what was the most unaltered sailing barge quay left. Cambria was being repaired there, continuing a long tradition of craft built on this site. Next to the sail loft was a small forge, containing a saw pit. The entrance was supported by ornately carved tiller handles, making it a beautiful little building. The sail loft itself was filled with such atmosphere and hundreds of irreplacable tools, photographs and other barge related items. The Cambria’s reconstructed original cabin was also in the museum.
In 2008, arsonists burned down the sail loft and museum. I can’t begin to tell you how tragic this crime was. In one night, a time capsule was lost forever. A gloom fell over me that I found hard to shake for a long time. Why do this? I wish the new museum all the best.

By: Achim

Achim — Fri, 16 Jul 2021 07:45:30 +0000

An awesome story!

Love & Peace
ACHIM

By: Peter Hart

Peter Hart — Fri, 16 Jul 2021 07:09:52 +0000

Fascinating story and great pictures. Thanks very much.

By: Ian Pack

Ian Pack — Fri, 16 Jul 2021 06:20:59 +0000

I’m fascinated by Thames barges as my paternal grandfather was a crewman early in his life. The family moved from Bermondsey to Faversham where they set up home before emigrating to them US in the early 1950s. A few years ago whilst sailing in Chichester Harbour I came across the rotting hull of Pride of Sheppy. When I told my late father of this, he informed me that was the barge his dad crewed on.

By: Annie Green

Annie Green — Fri, 16 Jul 2021 05:20:06 +0000

Fabulous! To see such skill and love and craftsmanship bringing something back to life – it warms the heart. Best of luck and more power to their hammers.