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Edward Gransden has kindly been in touch with these photos of the Thames sailing barge named Edith May, which has this month been sailing for the first time in ten years or more. Here’s what he says:
‘Please find attached a couple of photos from our first sail. We are intending to charter with individuals and groups up to 12 throughout the summer, operating from Lower Halstow, Chatham and Queenborough.
‘Having spent the past 10 and a half years restoring her, it was a great thrill to be able to take her out sailing for the first time, with her performance proving very pleasing. The Swale Match in August will be the first chance we get to see if she has retained the pace she was once renowned for!’
Thanks Edward! Any time you have photos and stories to share let me know.
It happens that we were over at Lower Halstow this weekend, and found the Edith May in the dock looking very smart. I took some shots with my camera phone – but I’m damned if I can get them out. It’s a better camera than you might think, but the connections and software make me curse!
Here’s an earlier post featuring the Edith May, and here’s a link to the Edith May website.
We have been following the progress of the Edith May for some 6 years. We visited Lower Halstow when she was being refurbished and was very kindly shown over her progress. My mother was called Edith May Doherty thus the interest.
Regards
Bridget
Hi,
I have been interested in the Edith May, Thames barge for many years. I am aged 90 years and being a Harwich boy can remember barges in the River Stour and in Gashouse Creek where they used load coke. More importantly of course it was the place at Cann’s yard where she was built and launched sideways. The Cann’s in some way were related to the Richmond family, my Dad calling one, ‘My cousin’.
My Grandfather, Mark Richmond, of Bathside, Harwich after leaving the sea, where he started as mate with his father, the skipper of a barge called the ‘Alde’, and later became the skipper himself of that barge. Ill health forced him to leave the sea and he worked at Cann’s yard rigging barges. My father had a photograph prior to the launch of the Edith May with all those responsible lined up on its deck. My grandfather being one of them. He was responsible for the rigging. Unfortunately Dad lent this photo to someone in Harwich just before he passed away in 1992. I have no idea who or where it is. I have considered putting a request in the local paper in an attempt to recover it. It I’m sure it would be a futile effort.
I’ve seen pictures of the restored Edith May and think she looks lovely.
I reside in Maldon and often see Barges on the River Blackwater and also at the Quayside in Maldon. I wondered if you have, or were aware of the photo I mentioned, It would have been a wonderful addition to your collection.
Yours
Graham M.Richmond
Tel no. 01621788689