Name: ThalattaCertificate number: 230 |
Status:Function:Sub Functional Area:Type:Spritsail Barge Location:St Osyth, Essex, England Current use:Sail training
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Web address
Builder
- 1906, W B McLearon, Harwich., Harwich
History
Built at the naval yard in Harwich, THALATTA was purchased in February 1906 by F W Horlock. In 1917 she was sold to Wynnfield Shipping Co. of Grimsby. An auxiliary engine was fitted, but this was removed when she was sold 1923 to Captain Body. She traded various cargoes between the north east and south coasts as well as to continental ports until she was purchased by R & W Paul (maltsters) in August 1933. Her new owners used her for grain cargoes around Thames Estuary, and in 1948 re-installed an auxiliary engine. When this cargo trade ceased, she became, from 1967, a cruise barge for children and in 1971 the East Coast Sail Trust was formed to provide 5-day educational cruises for children and to preserve this Thames sailing barge. In November 2007 her owners reported on the project to restore THALATTA. A special quay had to be built at St Osyth boatyard for the timber for the rebuild and a pontoon was converted to a drydock. Timber has been sourced from Suffolk, Essex and Norfolk as well as from overseas. Deck beams were found to be rotted and needed replacing. It is anticipated that THALATTA will be back in the water someime in 2009.
These brief histories are compiled from details supplied by vessel owners and enthusiasts and from various reference works. National Historic Ships would be grateful for any corrections of facts or additional information for inclusion. Please contact ron.ellis@nationalhistoricships.org.uk
Subsequent developments
None notified, please let us know if you have any additional information.
Previous names
Bibliography
- Five Days in another world aboard the Thames Sailing Barge Thalatta (lealfet), East Coast Sail Trust
- Rita Phillips, The Thalatta Diaries, Heritage House
- Carr, Frank, 1971, Sailing Barges
- Perks, Richard Hugh, 1975, Sprts'l: A Portrait of Sailing Barges and sailormen, Conway Maritime Press
- John Lkemp, 1983, A Fair Wind for London
- 1987, The Last Berth of the Sailorman, Society for Spritsail Barge Research
- Wood, D G, 1995, Barges Sailing Today: Sailing Barge Information Pamplet No: 1, Society for Spritsail Barge Research
- 2003, Trust campaigns for Thalatta, Classic Boat, Jan, pp. 9
- 2005, Barge and Wherries share £1million HLF bid, Classic Boat, June, pp. 7