2025 CENTENARY YEAR of sailing barge “Will”
Sailing Barge “Will” is back again for an Open Day, but on SUNDAY ONLY
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 Sailing Barge Will – London boat charter
Will at anchor in the Swale prior to the barge match on 2nd August 2025
Pop-Up Cafe
The usual refreshments will be in the pier house – tea, coffee and cakes
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Tea towels, tote bags and cards
A fundraising project continues for Hermitage River Projects (charity arm of Hermitage), with these items produced in modest numbers to a design by a teenage budding artist resident at Hermitage and launched earlier this year. They are great gifts, enjoyable to use and a pleasure to behold – the gull design is sure to continue to be popular.
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Shanty Choir
The shanty choir is back with more performances, only on the Sunday
1:30pm & 3pm
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Gates open 11am, close 4pm, both days
Accessibility If ease of access down the ramp is an issue these are not ideal days – low tide is in the middle of the opening hours!
Sat tides: low @12:42pm ; high @6:26pm
Sun tides: low @1:18pm ; high @7:16pm
