SB Ardwina

Ardwina is last wooden Thames barge to be built in Ipswich. This was in 1909. She was registered in London. She worked commercially until 1956. She was laid up after a collision, and restored as a yacht conversion. [1] She is still sailing in 2018, based at St Katherine Docks, and regularly passes under Tower Bridge.[2]

Ardwina upstream of Tower Bridge, London. 2017
History
United Kingdom
Name: Ardwina (1909-2018)
Owner:
  • E.J. & W.Goldsmith of Grays (1909-1938)
  • Metcalf Motor Coasters(1938-1950)
  • Daniels (1950-1959)
  • Brian Herve (1959-1961)
  • G.Newman of Maldon (1961-1966)
  • J.Hunt & R. Hogben (1966-1971)
  • J. Hunt (1971)
  • Porter.
  • Rolfe-Judd (1980-2018)
Builder: W.H. Orvis, Ipswich
Launched: 1909
Identification: United Kingdom Official Number 129016
Status: Yacht barge
General characteristics
Class and type: Thames barge
Tonnage: 66 GRT
Length: 85 feet (25.91 m)
Beam: 21.1 feet (6.43 m)
Draught: 6.4 feet (1.95 m)
Propulsion: Sails
Sail plan: Spritsail
Notes:

Description

Ardwina is 85 feet (25.91 m) long, 21.1 feet (6.43 m) wide and has a draught of 6.4 feet (1.95 m). She was built of wood by W.H.Orvis of Ipswich.[3] for E.J. & W.Goldsmith of Grays.,[4] she is assessed at 66 GRT.

History

The Ardwina sailed for many years out of Grays, working for Goldsmith's.[5] She ran on one occasion from Grays to Calais in 10¼ hours. On another occasion she was demasted in the channel, the crew were taken off and she was put on tow. The tow rope broke twice and she drifted in the shipping lanes for four days before she was captured and towed to harbour by a French motor coaster.[6] Following a further accident in the Thames she was bought and converted into a barge yacht.

See also

References
  1. Walsh 1986, p. 93.
  2. http://www.towerbridge.org.uk/lift-times/ Tower Bridge opening times
  3. Carr 1986, p. 221.
  4. https://www.sailingbargeresearch.org.uk/pages/active_barges_page_1.htm SSBR Active barge list
  5. Benham 1986, p. 160.
  6. March 1951, p. 89.

Bibliography
  • Carr, Frank (1951). Sailing Barges (Revised ed.). Peter Davies Ltd.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Benham, Hervey; Kershaw, Philip; Finch, Roger (1986). Down tops'l : the story of the East Coast sailing-barges (3rd ed.). London: Harrap. ISBN 0-245-54487-9.
  • March, Edgar (1948). Spritsail barges of Thames and Medway. London: Percival Marshal.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Walsh, Richard (1986). Kathleen : the biography of a sailing barge. Lavenham: Terence Dalton. ISBN 0861380460.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)


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