At one point in the early 1900’s there were over two thousand barges working the Thames and other east coast rivers, today that number has diminished to the remaining fleet of 57 below.

While the general trend is sadly towards a further reduction in the number of these historic ships, there is always good news too….

2011 saw the return of the magnificent, totally rebuilt Cambria and the finely restored Edith May.

2012 saw the return of the beautifully rebuilt Thalatta. Pudge and Niagara have also had major rebuilds, the latter proving to be a serious newcomer winning the championship 2013 with a whopping 40 points!

2013 saw my own special Xylonite back racing after a three year absence, there is also good progress under way on Centaur and Tollesbury. One of my personal favorites the Ironsides, now under new ownership, has her restoration well in hand at Iron Wharf boatyard at Faversham.

Active Barges Inactive Barges

Adieu
Alice*
Ardwina
Cabby
Cambria
Centaur
Cygnet*
Dawn
Decima
Edith May
Edme
Ethel Ada
Fertile*
Gladys
Greta
Hydrogen
Kitty
Lady Daphne
Lady of the Lea
Marjorie
May
Melissa
Mirosa
Nellie
Niagara
Orinoco
Phoenician
Pudge
Reminder
Repertor
Thalatta
Thistle
Victor
Whippet*
Will
Wyvenhoe
Xylonite

Atrato
Beric
Betula*
Defiance*
Ena
Ethel Maud
Felix
George Smeed
Glenway
Henry
Ironsides
Lady Jean
Northdown
Portlight
Raybel
Resourceful
Seagull II*
Tollesbury
Vigilant
Wilfred

* Denotes either replica or half size barges. The term active indicates that the barge is fully rigged and goes sailing. No offence is intended by the term inactive.