About the Thames Sailing Barge Trust
The Thames Sailing Barge Trust (TSBT) is a registered charity that exists to preserve two Thames sailing barges. The Trust was formed initially as the Thames Barge Sailing Club in 1948 and in 2003 became the Thames Sailing Barge Trust, a registered charity. The Trust is an entirely volunteer-run, non-profit company, and all sailing fees, membership subscriptions, and donations are used to maintain and restore our two sailing barges, Pudge and Centaur, and meet their operating expenses. Our volunteers are key to the Trust’s success.
Pudge
Pudge was built in 1922 by the London & Rochester Barge Co. for transporting oilseed between London, Rochester and Ipswich. The Thames Barge Sailing Club purchased her out of trade for £750 in 1968. As soon as she was purchased, the Club, now the Thames Sailing Barge Trust, set about re-rigging her and started to sail her for the benefit of its members.
Over the following 56 years the Trust has gradually restored her to her current condition. The last major piece of restoration, which included the preplacement of her decks, coamings, carlings, ceilings, and below deck accommodation, took five years to complete and was finished in 2022 when she celebrated her 100th birthday. This restoration was supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund and a number of other charitable Trusts, along with donations from the Trust’s members and supporters. A detailed description of the work that was undertaken with pictures can be found on the Trust’s website.
In May 2023 Pudge started her first full year of sailing and is once more operating as the Trust’s charter barge. She has a certificate to sail with 12 passengers, who can enjoy the comfort of two-berth cabins and a fully fitted galley and a welcoming saloon.
Centaur
Along with Pudge the Trust also own and operate Centaur, which is a part of the National Historic Fleet, and was built in 1895 by J & H Cann at Ipswich. The Thames Barge Sailing Club purchased her in 1974 as a fully rigged sailing barge after she was rebuilt by Richard Duke, who purchased her as a dumb barge which had been carrying timber from ships moored in the Blackwater to Heybridge Basin on the Chelmer & Blackwater Canal.
Centaur is now the focus of the Trust’s next restoration project, and although she still sails and has a certificate, she requires extensive work. We are currently planning her restoration programme and fundraising and expect that it will be 5 or 6 years before this work is completed.
The Trust warmly welcomes new members as each membership helps us keep Pudge and Centaur sailing and supports the much needed maintenance and restoration works. If you would like to support our aims and objectives, then please consider becoming a member. You can find more membership details on the Trust's website.
Crew Training Programme
The future operation of these iconic vessels is important to us. The Trust has been operating a barge sail training programme for a number of years, working hard to increase the number of mates and skippers available to sail these craft. This training has been supported by The Heritage Lottery Fund and Trinity House. Since the start of the training scheme we have trained four new skippers and eleven new mates. The training scheme takes on board 10 new trainees each year, providing an amazing opportunity for anyone wishing to develop their personal skills, learn traditional sailing skills, and support the maintenance and preservation of two historic vessels in their original sailing condition.
To find out more please visit the TSBT website.
Educational work
In addition to sail training, the Trust also aims to improve the understanding of the public as to the historic and cultural role of Thames Sailing Barges in the heritage of Great Britain. We promote and teach about the practice, traditions, and skills of seamanship involved in the handling and maintaining of these craft by taking people sailing in the waters where the barges traditionally operated. The Trust educates the general public about the history of the sailing barges by giving talks, holding open days, and by inviting visits on board.
Our education work includes a set of Educational Resources which are available on our website and designed for KS2 children. We hold 4 Children’s Activity Days each year during which around 240 children come aboard the barges, undertake various activities, and learn about these iconic vessels. This work is also offered to uniformed groups such as cubs and sea scouts. Our open days allow the public to explore the barges and obtain merchandise from our pop-up shop. Our programme of talks provides us with an opportunity to meet nearly a hundred people around the South East each year, and to tell them the history of the barges.
LATEST NEWS
January 2024 The Thames Sailing Barge Trust has launched its 2024 Barge Mate and Skipper Training Programme. Full story
September 2023 The Thames Sailing Barge Trust has won a Restoration Award for Pudge at the National Transport Trust Awards 2023. Full story
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