7th Jan 1968.
Mr Sid Batchelor was one of the last of Eastwoods old sailormen.
He started his barging as a young mate with Capt. Harry Moore on the:
PLOVER - Harry Mooore 1916
DURHAM - Harry Moore
ALPHA - Harry Moore
LINCOLN - Freddie Whitnell
DELTA - Freddie Whitnell
and took the following barges as skipper:
QUAIL
RUTLAND
WARWICK
LAPWING (1929)
Sid reckons he's counted a 177 between the spit buoy and the Jenkin
buoy.
DURHAM carried a large freight when she was over-loaded with 83 tons
of coke at Beckton gas works to Queenborough in Sept 1917.
1968 Pin Mill Barge Match - unknown news report:
Other end of season sailing news was that 14 barges were at the annual
Pin Mill event on the river Orwell. These included "Westmoreland",
"Spinaway C", Ardeer", "Venture", "Centaur",
"Millie", "Kitty", "Dawn", "Remercie",
Saltcote Belle" and "Kathleen", the latter having been
constructed at Gravesend.
Winner was the "Edith May", followed by "Mirosa"
and Silvertown Services 1891 constructed veteran "May",
built at Harwich.
William "Billie" Bennett had four barges in the 1880s, they
were:-
These were regularly emloyed doing different kinds of carrying, sand,
ballast, manure, and the like. They used to bring freights of staves
into Gillingham cement works for barrel making. They were also employed
on governement work during the first world war.
They also retailed sand and cement. One of the sons started the signwriting
and coachpainting business and undertook to paint barges, some from
the Essex shore and Wakeleys were painted by them - little wonder
they were so smart.
Their own "William Bennett" was very smartly turned out.
It was said that on her painting up they used a 100 leaves of guild.
This fleet was sold away in the 1900s. (C. White signature)
There were not many Gillingham owners of barges. Rootes the brickmakers
had:
This was used to do carrying away of bricks and bring in "Rough
Stuff".
17th Feb 1968.
Mr Robinson was another of Eastwoods last skippers, sailing some of
the firm's barges in a very poor state:
WHAUP with Perce
Whylie
E.F.Q.
BETA with
Freddie Prizeman
SCUD with Harry Moore
Skipper of LANDRAIL, SURREY, WARWICK, BERWICK.
14th April 1968.
Today I measured
up the old RAINHAM at Overshore. She measures 74' (80' including rudder)
x 14'6" x D
Eastwood COOT - 79' x 17' x D
30th March 1968
Today I had a chat with Harry Moore who has been a bargee for 60 years
most of it with Eastwoods. He first started as a young mate with his
father in 1899 on the:
CULREW, FREDERICK & MARY ANN, COOT, THETA, BETA, FREDERICK &
MARY ANN, COOT, SIGMA.
Skipper of :-
DIPPER (1912), DELTA (1915), DURHAM (1916), PLOVER (did ammo work
for 5 years), SCUD (15 years), NORTHAMPTON.
Harry was also a mate on the coasters for five years.
NIAGARA (1907), LADY MAUD, TOOTS (1912). Was taken of TOOTS off Broadstairs
during a heavy Gale.
Did coal work for a time with WESTMORELAND.
21st Aprl 1968.
Today I had a chat to one Mr Dick Virgo who hails originally from
Wakering in Essex and comes from a family of bargemen.
His borther Bill was lost when Goldsmiths YAMPA foundered off Harwich.
His uncle was Iziah Humm. Dick served twelve years with Eastwoods
before going to L.R.T.Co.
Mate on DABCHICK (1926), COOT, HERON, NORTHAMPTON (all Eastwoods).
Skipper of DABCHICK (1936), QUAIL (both Eastwoods), then GLADYS, ERIC
and NEW ACORN (1951) (L.R.T.Co.)
