The 1923 Thames Sailing Barge Lady Daphne - who was one of last year's NHS-UK Flagships of the Year - is returning to the East Coast after nearly three years at Charlestown Harbour, Cornwall. Owners Sam and Andy posted on Facebook:
"For those of you that were not aware, we had to make an emergency exit from Charlestown Harbour late September 2024 due to the failure of the inner harbour lock gate caused by storm damage. Following our exit from Charlestown Harbour, she has been laying at Exchequer Quay, Penryn.
The repercussions of this unplanned move have placed enormous strains on us and our resources to remain as effective custodians over her long-term future. We have now made the very sad and difficult decision to place her with new custodians. She will probably be leaving Cornish shores, heading back East, around Mid-Late April.
Although it is very sad that she will not continue her journey with us in Cornwall, we are thrilled that she is going as Flagship for an exciting development for Barge Heritage in Rochester, back from where she was launched more than 100 years ago now. Even better, she will be under the careful watch of a CIC called Tiller and Wheel and joining their fleet of Sailing Barges Edith May and Ardwina, plus Thistle, a Whitstable Oyster Smack.
We are both struggling physically, emotionally and financially to keep her going, and so it is really important that she goes to a great home, with people that understand her needs going forwards and can keep her sailing and her onward journey moving in a positive direction. We have both invested heavily in her ongoing upkeep and maintenance/restoration, but now despite our best efforts we no longer have the resources to keep going.
There will be features about this next stage of her journey, so you will be able to keep up with her news. We wish Ed and all the team at Tiller and Wheel all the best with her future and send our thanks for taking her under your safe wings!"
Tiller & Wheel CIC are one of NHS-UK's Shipshape Network South East projects. A small family business, they are dedicated to promoting the historic East Coast fleet of smacks and barges and providing high quality experiences aboard their historic vessels Edith May, a Thames Sailing Barge, and Thistle, a Whitstable oyster smack. In December 2024, they bought Shoregate Wharf, Upchurch. Lower Halstow remains their main sailing base, but Shoregate will become a home to at least one sailing barge in the near future.
Sources: Lady Daphne on Facebook, Tiller & Wheel
Zone South East