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Details
Function
Cargo Vessel
Subfunction
Barge
Location
Ipswich
Vessel type
Spritsail Barge
Current use
Commercial Activity
Available to hire
Yes
Available for excursions
No
Info required
No
Web address
www.sailingbargemay.co.uk
Construction
Builder
Cann, John & Herbert, Harwich
Built in
1891
Hull material
Wood
Rig
Spritsail
Number of decks
1
Number of masts
2
Propulsion
Sail
Number of engines
1
Primary engine type
Diesel
Boiler type
None
Boilermaker
None
Dimensions
Breadth: Beam
18.98
feet
(5.79
m)
Depth
4.00
feet
(1.22
m)
Length: Overall
80.95
feet
(24.69
m)
Tonnage: Gross
70.00
Air Draft
To be confirmed
History
In her early years, MAY worked for the Cranfield Brothers, flour millers of Ipswich, and traded principally in grain between the London Docks and the owners' mills in Ipswich.
Between the end of the Second World War and January 1964, she carried general cargoes before being bought by Silvertown Services Lighterage Ltd (now a subsidiary of Tate & Lyle). She regularly carried sugar to the Isle of Wight and was also used for training apprentices and for company hospitality; a passenger certificate and loadline exemption allows the barge to be underway with up to 40 passengers within the smooth water limits around the UK and the continent.
In 1972 she carried 50 tonnes of Portland stone for the restoration of St Paul's Cathedral and a few years later, in 1976, she was transported to the Canadian lakes for the Olympic Games.
Now in private hands, MAY is available for private charter and is regularly seen on the River Thames.
Sources
Carr, Frank, Sailing Barges, 1971
Hugh Perks, Richard, Sprts'l: A Portrait of Sailing Barges and Sailormen, Conway Maritime Press, 1975
Wood, D G, Barges Sailing Today: Sailing Barge Information Pamplet No: 1, Society for Spritsail Barge Research, 1995
Classic Boat: Thames Barge Match, September 2005
Classic Boat: Thames Barging, September 1998
Key dates
-
1891
Vessel built by John & Herbert Cann, Bathside, Gashouse Creek, Harwich
-
1912-c1945
Worked for the Cranfield Brothers, flour millers of Ipswich, trading principally in grain between the London Docks
-
1964
Bought by Silvertown Services Lighterage Ltd. (now a subsidiary of Tate & Lyle) for regular use carrying sugar to the Isle of Wight
-
1972
Carried 50 tonnes of Portland stone for the restoration of St Paul’s Cathedral
-
1976
Transported to the Canadian lakes for the Olympic Games
-
2011
In private hands and available for charter
-
2012
Vessel selected to take part in the Avenue of Sail, Queen's Diamond Jubilee Pageant on 3 June 2012
Grants
-
September 2013
A Sustainability Grant of £1500 for remedial work was made from the Strategic Development Fund of National Historic Ships UK
-
April 2011
A Sustainability grant of £1000 was awarded for remedial work from the Stategic Development Fund of National Historic Ships
-
October 2010
Vessel used to carry judges and sponsored down the Thames to Greenwich on photography competition Award Ceremony day
-
April 2009
A Sustainability Grant of £2000 for cabin hatchment was made from the Straegic Development Fund of National Historic Ships
Own this vessel?
If you are the owner of this vessel and would like to provide more details or updated information, please contact info@nationalhistoricships.org.uk
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