As a young lad living in Rowhedge I can remember seeing nearly all these barges passing up and down to the Hythe and often saw barges at Marriges Mill up past the bridges loading flour. Thankyou for sharing this wonderful video that brings so many memorys back to life for an older man who now lives on the other side of the world.
Great documentary. Wonderful to hear accents such as that of Jim Lawrence, that I’ve not heard since my childhood in London. It’s extraordinary how differently people now speak in this part of England
Lovely video. I meet Jimmy Lawrence at the Wooden boat show many years ago, such a lovely man. So sad that he is no longer with us. Great boats I have been lucky to sail on Reminder and Thistle.
Brilliant video. I was born in Linfird Essex but moved to Australia 11/ Dec/1971. I watched this video sitting next to a model of a Thames barge my Dad built many years ago back in 1985 The Celia Jane by Ian Metcalf. Cheers Ian
I'm currently building a 1/24 scale model of Veronica (drawings and part kits are available but the 'part' is very small!). Several have already been built and are sailing, so it's sad to learn from this video that the original is in poor repair. My wife and I and another couple used to charter from Blackwater Yacht Charters, Malden in around 1980 and admired the barges then. I'm too old to sail in person now but, hopefully, my radio control model will. It's easy to romanticise the days of sail because the vessels looked so beautiful but it was a hard, low paid life. This is a great view. Thanks
A wonderful film thank you. The footage of the barges under full sail takes my breath away. They are incredibly beautiful, and yet they were built as workhorses. Its a credit to the ppl who restore and maintain them, so we can still enjoy them today. ♥
What a wonderful production; so easily forgotten in our "modern" world and yet the economic principles still apply; the "supply & demand". And from an historical perspective; the importance of keeping alive that tradition. Thank you very much.
An excellent film, thanks for posting. It's sad that that way of life has gone, there used to be a lot more people on the land & water, the working connection has been mostly lost after 1000's of years.
As a boy I learned to sail at Pin Mill on the Orwell. I remember about half a dozen Thames barges berthed there at the time, a number that seems to have dwindled somewhat since.
I am a Black Country wench, but my father was from Burnham On Crouch in Essex, so my childhood involved time spent by the Crouch and also the Blackwater in Maldon., I remember I fell in love with these beautiful craft and still remember the excitement I felt to see them, especially sailing. This would have been the late 60/early 70s, when they were already an endangered species and a rare thing. Lovely to watch them again
I remember the badges at the Hythe Colcester during the 1940s.Sometimes stuck in the mud at low tide. I would have loved a trip in one but gr8 years old would only have been in the way.
Saw many in Maldon Hythe and they are still there but the same type enthusiasts have saved Sailing Smack and even the once derelict and sunk Skillinger Pioneer..
A relative, seached my family's history and they sailed thames barges. I guess that is where my family name came from. I always wanted to sail and windsurfed, dinghy and sailed yachts for about 35 years . Too old now.
As a young lad living in Rowhedge I can remember seeing nearly all these barges passing up and down to the Hythe and often saw barges at Marriges Mill up past the bridges loading flour.
Thankyou for sharing this wonderful video that brings so many memorys back to life for an older man who now lives on the other side of the world.
Great documentary. Wonderful to hear accents such as that of Jim Lawrence, that I’ve not heard since my childhood in London. It’s extraordinary how differently people now speak in this part of England
Lovely video. I meet Jimmy Lawrence at the Wooden boat show many years ago, such a lovely man. So sad that he is no longer with us. Great boats I have been lucky to sail on Reminder and Thistle.
Really enjoyed that .
Fantastic.
Brilliant video.
I was born in Linfird Essex but moved to Australia 11/ Dec/1971.
I watched this video sitting next to a model of a Thames barge my Dad built many years ago back in 1985 The Celia Jane by Ian Metcalf.
Cheers Ian
I'm currently building a 1/24 scale model of Veronica (drawings and part kits are available but the 'part' is very small!). Several have already been built and are sailing, so it's sad to learn from this video that the original is in poor repair. My wife and I and another couple used to charter from Blackwater Yacht Charters, Malden in around 1980 and admired the barges then. I'm too old to sail in person now but, hopefully, my radio control model will.
It's easy to romanticise the days of sail because the vessels looked so beautiful but it was a hard, low paid life. This is a great view. Thanks
A wonderful film thank you. The footage of the barges under full sail takes my breath away. They are incredibly beautiful, and yet they were built as workhorses. Its a credit to the ppl who restore and maintain them, so we can still enjoy them today. ♥
What a wonderful production; so easily forgotten in our "modern" world and yet the economic principles still apply; the "supply & demand". And from an historical perspective; the importance of keeping alive that tradition. Thank you very much.
An excellent film, thanks for posting. It's sad that that way of life has gone, there used to be a lot more people on the land & water, the working connection has been mostly lost after 1000's of years.
A lovely video of great old times, thank you. Great footage of barges, the characters who worked them, ERF wagons and even sausages !!
Glad you enjoyed it
Enjoyed the production. Thank you
Exceptional information; production;history lesson
As a boy I learned to sail at Pin Mill on the Orwell. I remember about half a dozen Thames barges berthed there at the time, a number that seems to have dwindled somewhat since.
Great video ... great subject, great story
Thanks so much!
I sailed on the 'Millie' from Pinmill, Suffolk, to Maldon, one of my greatest memories !
Fabulous, just fabulous.
I am a Black Country wench, but my father was from Burnham On Crouch in Essex, so my childhood involved time spent by the Crouch and also the Blackwater in Maldon., I remember I fell in love with these beautiful craft and still remember the excitement I felt to see them, especially sailing. This would have been the late 60/early 70s, when they were already an endangered species and a rare thing. Lovely to watch them again
Great history. Thank you.
Great job
Know this Barge well xxx
Wow fantastic documentary,I enjoyed that
Glad to hear it!
I spent a lot of time in the medway. I also been to faversham a few times and the maritime history of these barges is still in everybody's mouths.
I remember the badges at the Hythe Colcester during the 1940s.Sometimes stuck in the mud at low tide. I would have loved a trip in one but gr8 years old would only have been in the way.
Brilliant.Loved it.
My father worked on the Thames barge Cambria, think I've got a photo of him working on it.
Excellent. wouldn't mind going out on that
Saw many in Maldon Hythe and they are still there but the same type enthusiasts have saved Sailing Smack and even the once derelict and sunk Skillinger Pioneer..
Used to watch the Will Everard at Kings Lynn the last sailing barge to be used commercially out of the port .
I made this documentary in 2010. I hope you liked it.
Great bit of history. Any idea when the documentary was made?
We made this film in 2010
Remarkable
A relative, seached my family's history and they sailed thames barges. I guess that is where my family name came from. I always wanted to sail and windsurfed, dinghy and sailed yachts for about 35 years . Too old now.
As with the Argos,this begs the question: Is it still the same ship, even though it has been cimpletely renewed?
Blow boats are cool.
today i learnt what Fiddler's Green means.
Robinson Robert Hernandez Jennifer Wilson Jose