Upon her completion in July 1926, Xylonite was delivered to her proud owner Frederick William Horlock, often referred to as F.W. Horlock. He had the pleasure of ownership for the first ten years.

Xylonite had been launched with the name BX, but the name was quickly changed to Xylonite after her first skipper refused to sail her because he didn't like the name.

On the 30th October 1936 Xylonite was sold by F.W. Horlock to Marcus Frederick Horlock and Walter Richard Horlock.

Exactly two years later on 31st October 1938 she officially became the property of M.F. Horlock and Company Ltd.

Xylonite remained under the Horlock family ownership until August 1958.

In August 1958 Xylonite was sold to The Greenhithe Lighterage Company Ltd, which was owned by the Tester family.

She was converted to a motor barge, which involved fitting her with an engine, removing most of her gear and rigging and building a wheel house aft.

Xylonite as a motor barge continued carrying cargo until June 1977.

In June 1977 Xylonite's cargo carrying days came to an end when she was sold to Tim and Brigid Eliff. Tim re rigged her and she was run as a charter barge for some time under the Hoseasons banner. She was based for many years during Tim's ownership at the Prospect of Whitby pub in Wapping, London.

Amongst Xylonites unique attributes in this era was an early set of 'Duradon' sails, which were a slightly strange purple colour - well it was the 1970's! She also had a scary hollow steel topmast that would frequently buckle, often bending in half.

 

Xylonite was bought in November 1984 by Anglican clergyman William Broad. Bill, as he was better known, co owned her with his wife Daphne and John Corder Belfrage.

Bill Broad was responsible for setting up the Cirdan Trust - a charitable organisation whose primary purpose was to give under priveleged children the experience of sailing on a variety of traditional boats.

The Cirdan trust soon assumed ownership of the Xylonite (from 1985) and continued to do great work taking kids on literally thousands of exciting trips all over the east coast for over 22 years.

The trust eventually disposed of Xylonite for a combination of reasons in the summer of 2007.

Xylonite was sold to respected barge skipper Rebecca Polden and her partner Alan Wilkes in 2007. 
They lived on her as a houseboat at Maylandsea.

Becky undertook some serious restoration work and took her sailing when work and restoration commitments permitted. 
Rebecca and Alan sold the barge in summer 2011.

Xylonite was bought by London based photographer Tim Kent in June 2011.