History | Today | Specification

Originally built for A. & R. Horlock of Mistley, Kitty was used to transport cargo along the East Coast and the continent until 1938. Then under Francis and Gilders (later L. & R.T. Co.) Kitty transported cargo along the South East coast which was predominantly grain including barley, malt and cattle feed. She was temporarily withdrawn from trading during the two World Wars. During the First World War she carried stores to Calais for the troops on the Western front.

By the late 1950's modern motor coasters were driving sailing barges out of trade. As a consequence many of the barges were at best de-rigged of all their sails and as a timber lighters or left to rot in some forgotten creek or were literally scuttled in the North Sea. Kitty was more fortunate than most and was acquired by Brown of Heybridge in 1955 and de-rigged and used as a timber lighter until 1964 when The Malden Yacht and Barge Charter Co. bought her re-rigged her used for charter work for the first time.

Crew

Thames Sailing barges are designed to be handled by just a Master and Mate and every voyage was made under sail without engine assitance. This required great skill especially in the confined waters of the Thames and East Coast rivers where especially progress could only be made with the help of favourable wind and tide.