Tam Lin
Well-Known Member
On PBS America, Sky channel 534 at 7.50. Just noticed it but have no idea if it will be any good.
Thames barges on TV tonight
- Thread starter Tam Lin
- Start date
Tam Lin
Well-Known Member
Just watched it, Griff Rhys Jones on a voyage from Landemere Creek up to London taking a cargo of straw. Very watchable if you like that sort of thing. As is usual with these channels it is on several times more later tonight.
It's called Britain's Lost Routes.
It's called Britain's Lost Routes.
Saguday
Well-Known Member
It was on some years ago (BBC production) but enjoyable and worth another watch, especially for those of us with roots in the area 
Poignard
Well-Known Member
ex-Gladys
Well-Known Member
That wasn't Landermere, that was Salcott... I was on the mooring and the big support motor yacht was anchored in the Quarters, and Dawn came down firstly half loaded, and went back up again to complete the loading with the tide
tillergirl
Well-Known Member
This was their practice run - 2011:
DavidofMersea
Well-Known Member
It was on some years ago (BBC production) but enjoyable and worth another watch, especially for those of us with roots in the area
My thoughts exactly. I was a good film although it was a bit disjointed. It started in Salcot creek, then went round the coast by Southend, and the next shot is GR-J singing in a pub at Rowhedge, and there were other similar out of place items. However, it is worth watching
Tam Lin
Well-Known Member
Yes, they loaded the straw at Salcott but that was a little way through the programme, for some reason they started off in the Backwaters and hung around near Harwich for a while first.
I missed it when it was shown before so it was new to me!
I think we have learnt about TV continuity from Tim West' s canal series and the discussion on here!
I enjoyed the programme particularly as I spent a few days aboard a Dawn when I was a young man.
BTW, did they always load barges at the top of the tide? I always thought that they took the ground when the tide went out. Did it depend on where they were?
Nice photos BTW.
ianc1200
Well-Known Member
A couple of years ago she reverted to tiller steering & on the website stated she is the only tiller steered sailing barge left.
Poignard
Well-Known Member
What about Cygnet, is she still around?
ianc1200
Well-Known Member
Looks like Dawn isn't the only tiller steered barge!
tillergirl
Well-Known Member
I'm sure I saw Cygnet last year and I don't recall Dawn ever had a Tiller - not that means that she didn't have one.
As to loading, the timing depends on the cargo and location. Digging out Marion Carr's gem of a little book they had loaded coal from the Tyne I think on the time - using a chute it was quick and easy; getting up to Marriage's mill under bridges they could only pass a half tide - enough water v enough height - so not enough time to finish in time. Loading a stacker couldn't have finished loading on the top of the tide I would have thought. Marion talks about loading sand, again by chute on the tide because only getting a one-way cargo they tried to do it as quicky as possible to reduce the time when not carrying revenue earnings - but that was when she was working on a motor barge. Under sail, loading Par china clay required an utterly clean hodl which was independently inspecting before loading. Surprising that they carried cargoes twix Tyne and the West Country.
Sailing barges under power can be quite handy! Decima - wheel again. That used to be my usual mooring she pivoted round - does the vid work? Ah no. How does that work?:
This barge had a very crusty old master.....
The Master is keeping a careful eye on the GP:
As to loading, the timing depends on the cargo and location. Digging out Marion Carr's gem of a little book they had loaded coal from the Tyne I think on the time - using a chute it was quick and easy; getting up to Marriage's mill under bridges they could only pass a half tide - enough water v enough height - so not enough time to finish in time. Loading a stacker couldn't have finished loading on the top of the tide I would have thought. Marion talks about loading sand, again by chute on the tide because only getting a one-way cargo they tried to do it as quicky as possible to reduce the time when not carrying revenue earnings - but that was when she was working on a motor barge. Under sail, loading Par china clay required an utterly clean hodl which was independently inspecting before loading. Surprising that they carried cargoes twix Tyne and the West Country.
Sailing barges under power can be quite handy! Decima - wheel again. That used to be my usual mooring she pivoted round - does the vid work? Ah no. How does that work?:
This barge had a very crusty old master.....
The Master is keeping a careful eye on the GP:
Seashoreman
Well-Known Member
Cygnet is most definitely around. Moored at Snape Maltings and skippered by Des for many many years. He takes her, singlehanded, down the coast on a regular basis, summer or winter. If she is not on the quay at Snape she is somewhere sailing. I don't think she is technically a Thames Barge but I believe the oldest wooden barge afloat, in excellent working condition. Des is an expert.
Poignard
Well-Known Member
Thanks! Worth a diversion to see her next time I'm driving up north.
Tam Lin
Well-Known Member
The video worked using the link which was in the email notification that you had posted but not on this site.
ianc1200
Well-Known Member
I believe there is a history (ie issues within the Trust) behind Dawn & tiller/wheel steering. In the GRJ's programme she had a wheel, about 2-3 years ago i was at the St Oysth yard where Brian Kennell & Shaun White were fitting the tiller (it was a massive piece of oak).
MikeBz
Well-Known Member
On the subject of Cygnet this is a great read: http://www.barlingwakeringvillages.co.uk/ltwakering/CygnetBarge.htm
Tammany
Well-Known Member
Poignard
Well-Known Member
Many thanks for that.
Jan Harber
Well-Known Member
Yes, many thanks for that fascinating Wakering link. Will pass it on to Des when next I see him at Snape, although he may already know about it.
Curious that in the earlier of the two photos Cygnet had a wheel but these days she has a tiller.
Also interesting was the account of the 1953 Flood and the mention of Ed Mumford... whom I remember seeing working around at Bill Sutton's Wakering yard when I visited with my dad (who often went there to photograph whatever boat Bill was building at the time in the '60s or '70s). Somewhere I have an archive photo of Ed at the yard, working on the barge yacht Growler, which had in the past been owned by Sir Alker Tripp. I remember being told at the time that Ed had won a medal for his part in the rescue of the flooded Foulness islanders.
Curious that in the earlier of the two photos Cygnet had a wheel but these days she has a tiller.
Also interesting was the account of the 1953 Flood and the mention of Ed Mumford... whom I remember seeing working around at Bill Sutton's Wakering yard when I visited with my dad (who often went there to photograph whatever boat Bill was building at the time in the '60s or '70s). Somewhere I have an archive photo of Ed at the yard, working on the barge yacht Growler, which had in the past been owned by Sir Alker Tripp. I remember being told at the time that Ed had won a medal for his part in the rescue of the flooded Foulness islanders.