2025 CENTENARY YEAR of sailing barge “Will”
Sailing Barge “Will” is back for an Open Weekend, and it is a special year to celebrate 100 years since she was built.
Fully rigged, and with a lee-board each side that is typical of this type of flat-bottomed sailing river vessel, the Will is the largest such barge built, and made of steel (including the lee-boards) unlike the majority which were built of timber. The lee-boards are winched up to help to minimise draft and allow access up river as far as possible as well as permit safe sitting on the ground when desired, eg when at a quayside unloading cargo whilst the tide goes out . She measures 97.6ft long (almost 30m), she is a big and impressive vessel.
The vessel is available for visitors to look at close up, as well as tour round the deck (with care). She is a working barge, but takes cargoes of guests now instead of goods as originally built for, providing charters for up to 50 people. Thames sailing barges were for a long period the mainstay of shipment of goods in and around the Thames and the estuary, up the east coast and sometimes across the channel.
(Link to info): Thames Barge Will – Thames Sailing Barge Will – London boat charter
There is a Pop-Up Cafe in the pier house with tea, coffee and cakes
Plus we have our Shanty Singers , led by talented singer songwriter Hannah Nicholson (third from right), and they have prepared two performances for Sunday – at 12pm and 2pm – audience participation warmly invited. Here is a photo of the core group, with glasses in hand, you would be forgiven for mistaking them for a drinking club, hopefully their singing will quickly dispel that notion!
Gates open 11am, close 4pm, both days
If ease of access down the ramp is an issue best to come later in the day when the tide is higher and the bridge closer to level.
Sat tides: low @10:48am ; high @4:40pm
Sun tides: low @11:23am ; high @5:18pm
