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.