Thames Barge - Mousme

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locqueltas

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I was hoping someone may know the whereabouts of the vessel Mousme.
She was an important part of my life as a child before she was sold in approx. 1973/4.
Is she still in commission?
Many thanks
 
From the Society for Sailing Barge Research website

http://www.sailingbargeresearch.org.uk/pages/Barge Ports_page_1.htm

'PIN MILL, Suffolk
On the south side of the Orwell, Pin Mill, is about half mile from the bus stop at Chelmondiston on the B1456 road to Shotley. Barges may be lying on the hard near the Butt & Oyster public house. MELISSA is based here among the housebarges and hulks nearby including MOUSME, VENTURE and WATERLILY.'

Do you know the origin of her unusual name?
 
Based on the Registers listing that says its a "HULK" at Pin Mill. I would guess that this picture shows the bad news.....

http://www.panoramio.com/photo/8402423

8402423.jpg
 
Mousme

Thank you everyone who has replied. It seems that Mousme has aged somewhat which is terribly sad. However, I have now been in touch with someone else important to her past who plans to visit and see her.
I have some wonderful memories of her as a fit, active sea going vessel.
 
Mousme

I have been sent a recent photo of her stern view with her name still clearly visible. She is most definitely a wreck. It is very, very sad as my parents very masterfully renovated her at the end of the 60's into a beautiful home but also a working vessel. She was moved from Maldon up to the Thames where over the years she was moored at Grays, Essex, Greenwich, Hammersmith Pier and Cadogan Pier. She had long lost her sails when they found her but she had a fine engine and she was in a sea going state by the time they had finished converting her. As you can imagine it was a marvellous home for two young children. She was our home from approx. 1969 - 1974 - if anyone else remembers her at these moorings please be in touch.
By sheer coincidence the grandson of her original master has been in touch and he plans to visit her at Pin Mill and perhaps take his mother who also spent some of her childhood aboard her.
 
The demise of the Mousme

During the summer holidays of my last year at school, I joined the then skipper and his mate (both good friends of mine) for a trip from the Isle of Grain refinery to one of the London docks (East India I believe) with 40tons of oil in drums. At the time, (1967) Mousme belonged to The London & Rochester Trading Company, based in Rochester, Kent. Although she was probably L&RTC's oldest vessel, she was still earning her keep. The Kelvin 44 engine she had struggled at times, especially when punching the tide fully laden. I have never forgotten that journey and it is indeed sad to see her gradually wasting away in a muddy grave. RIP to what was a fine vessel!
 
I used to visit a dutch steel barge near hammersmith called Mousme, It was owned by the Snell family and had had a tremendous amount of work carried out on her. Surely this cant be the same boat? Locueltas, I have private messaged you
 
locqueltas said:
I was hoping someone may know the whereabouts of the vessel Mousme.
She was an important part of my life as a child before she was sold in approx. 1973/4.
Is she still in commission?
Many thanks
Click to expand...

Hi there

I dont know if you are still looking for info on Mouseme, if so there are recent pictures of her hulked on the facebook page Thames Sailing Barges. She is at Pin Mill. My Uncle, Dad and Grandfather had associations with Mouseme in 1950's - 60's. The family name is Bridges. Wouldnt it be strange if you knew them! I have developed a keen interest in the barges, my Dad and I talked a lot about his time on the river as an apprentice originally and then later Master of his own barge. Please feel free to contact should you wish to. I never tire of discussing the barges and would be great to communicate with someone who actually knew Mouseme, I am yet to sail on a barge but am planning to soon.

Kind regards
 
Gemisu said:
Hi there

I dont know if you are still looking for info on Mouseme, if so there are recent pictures of her hulked on the facebook page Thames Sailing Barges. She is at Pin Mill. My Uncle, Dad and Grandfather had associations with Mouseme in 1950's - 60's. The family name is Bridges. Wouldnt it be strange if you knew them! I have developed a keen interest in the barges, my Dad and I talked a lot about his time on the river as an apprentice originally and then later Master of his own barge. Please feel free to contact should you wish to. I never tire of discussing the barges and would be great to communicate with someone who actually knew Mouseme, I am yet to sail on a barge but am planning to soon.

Kind regards
Click to expand...

There were a father and two sons working on the Medway up until the late 1970s
with the surname Bridges.
London Rochester later became Cresent Shipping.
Peter Bridges (snr) was the skipper of the tug Dragette.
The youngest son became the yard manager at Cresents Strood Yard.
 
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