The trust has made awards to Thames Barges previously, and is delighted to see yet another being restored and preserved for future generations and we are grateful to Steve DeLaSalle from Danbury in Essex for bringing Rochester-built barge Pudge to our attention.
The Thames Sailing Barge was the main form of bulk cargo transport on the East Coast for over two hundred years. S.B.Pudge is a Thames spritsail barge, built in wood in 1922 in Rochester, Kent and was one of the last wooden barges built. Pudge is listed on the Historic Ship Register and is also a Dunkirk Little Ship, being involved with the evacuation of troops in 1940.
The Thames Sailing Barge Trust, (TSBT), which is a 100% volunteer charity, acquired Pudge in 1968. It has taken care of her ever since, enabling her to continue sailing on her local waters. In 2019 the TSBT began a major restoration project to replace Pudge’s rotten decks and rebuild the entire accommodation area below. The project to date has been part funded by the Lottery Heritage Fund, and other charitable trusts and funds, as well as donations from TSBT members, volunteers and members of the public. The project is nearing its completion. The decks have all been replaced, and the accommodation refit is underway.
The last significant piece of work required to get Pudge back sailing again is a new pair of leeboards. The current boards are old, beyond their service life, and in need of replacement. The leeboards are a unique feature to the Thames Sailing Barge and look rather like two ‘wings’ sitting either side of the vessel. As the vessel itself has quite low draft, the purpose of the leeboards is to minimise the extent to which the vessel is blown sideways across the water by the wind when she is under sail. The leeboards are 23ft long by 7ft wide and a fan shape, are built from oak and wrought iron and each weighs approximately one ton.
Thames barges have been a back drop of the Thames for hundreds of years, and have inspired artists, writers, and photographers, through the ages. With so much fine work done already, the Trust is keen to help where it can to see Pudge part of the vista once more, and are delighted to be able to support by way of a restoration award.