Ironsides | National Historic Ships

Registration number 470

Status National Historic Fleet

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Photography competition entry 2014 - lifting the mast S.B.Ironsides

Details

Function Cargo Vessel

Subfunction Barge

Location Faversham

Vessel type Spritsail Barge

Current use Commercial Activity

Available to hire Yes

Available for excursions Yes

Info required Yes

Construction

Builder Clark & Standfield, Grays

Built in 1900

Hull material Iron

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

20.30 feet (6.19m)

Depth

6.39 feet (1.95m)

Length: Overall

84.95 feet (25.91m)

Tonnage: Gross

97.00

History

IRONSIDES was built by Stanfield and Clarke, Grays, Essex in 1900 and sold to Associated Portland Cement Manufacturers. She carried stone from Portland to London under sail alone. She was nearly lost after a collision at Limehouse around 1909 and nearly lost again in a gale at Dungeness in 1928. That year she was sold to the London Rochester Trading Co. and converted to a motor barge (single hatch) in 1938.

She was damaged in the Docklands Blitz in 1940.

In 1967 she was converted to a charter yacht and became a regular winner of the Champion Barge. She has now been authentically re-rigged as a Thames Sailing Barge, although she has been converted below for charter and private groups. The iron hull has been extensively replated in steel.

Current owner from March 2012, Toby Lester, restoration almost complete but ongoing with this year 2016 attending as many functions as possible.

We are currently seeking further information on this National Historic Fleet vessel. If you have any details about this vessel past or present, please contact us.

Key dates

1900
Built by Clarke & Stanfield, Grays, Essex
1900-1928
Owned by Associated Portland Cement and carried stone from Portland to London under sail alone
1928
Sold to the London & Rochester Trading Company
1938
Converted to a motor barge
1940
Damaged by enemy action in World War II
1967
Converted to a charter yacht
1984
Interior refurbished

Grants

January 2019
A Sustainability Award of £1000 for a new racing sale was made from the Strategic Development Fund of National Historic Ships UK

Sources

Brouwer, Norman J, International Register of Historic Ships, Anthony Nelson, pp154, Edition 2, 1993
Wood, D G, Barges Sailing Today: Sailing Barge Information Pamplet No: 1, Society for Spritsail Barge Research, 1995
Classic Boat: Ironsides wins second Solent barge match, March 2002