Sailing away - Thames sailing barges Wyvenhoe & Niagara

#ThamesBarge #SailingBarge #Wyvenhoe #Niagara #Colne #Essex #Essexcoast #barge

Landscape format. A view of the River Thames from Gravesend, Kent, on the south bank. The Gravesend pontoon, extending out from the left of the image, is attached to the Town Pier. Two sailing barges are moored at the pntoon, both with traditional red ochre sails, lowered. A house boat is moored alongside the closer of the barges. Sailing barges used to be the main carriers of freight up and down the river. Across the river is Tilbury B power station, still operating whn the photo was taken but soon to be "mothballed" and demolished. The site is now used as a roll on roll off freight terminal known as Tilbury 2; part of the main Tilbury Docks, which are upriver. This image taken 28 May 2012 using a Samsung NX100 and 20-50mm f/3.5-5.6 ED lens.

River Thames: Gravesend pontoon. Taken on 28 May 2012. More info in Alt Text. 📷 #photography #photograph #photo #Gravesend #RiverThames #Thames #pontoon #sailingbarge

Taken on 24 June 2016. A sailing barge, Xlonite, on the River Thames, a few miles eat of Gravesend, Kent. Portrait format, an angled view of the barge as it sails up river, showing its grey hull and red ochre sails. The barge fills most of the frame with its hull at the bottom of the frame: there are people aboard, possibly crew, possibly passengers. The mast is tall, with 3 (?) sails raised, the central sail perhaps to half its height. A red ensign flies from the rear of the third sail. The barge is lit by bright sun and the sky is blue with puffy cloud. Sailing barges used to be the main carriers of freight up and down the Thames are can still be seen there, although not as carriers. Most, now, have motors and it is unusual to see one sailing 'under sail'. Still very distinctive and beautiful sights ! Taken with a Samsung NX11 and 50-200mm f/4-5.6 ED OIS lens.

River Thames: Xylonite. Taken 24 June 2016. More info in Alt Text. 📷 #photography #photograph #photo #Xylonite #sail #sailingbarge #barge #RiverThames #Thames

A monon chrome image showing Bawley Bay, Gravesend; on the south bank of the River Thames. The river is at low tide; a sailing barge, Cambria, is moored just beyond the mud and a little down river are the pontoons of the Royal Terrace Pier, the end of which is shown on the right of the image. The Pier is used by the Port of London Authority and a number of its fleet of boats are moored at the pontoons. On the horizon, in the middle of the image, is a tug. Taken using a Samsung NX100 and Samsung 20-50mm f/3.5-5.6 ED.

River Thames at Gravesend: Bawley Bay. Taken 16 October 2011. More info in Alt Text. 📷 #photography #photograph #photo #RiverThames #Thames #Gravesend #Kent #BawleyBay #sailingbarge #Cambria #RoyalTerracePier

The sailing barge Hydrogen sailing down the River Thames, 30 August 2004. It is shown in silhouette with the industrial buildings of Northfleet behind: the taller chimneys were demolished a few years later and served a cement factory. The smaller chimney still stands and is part of a metal refinery. Hydrogen was built in 1906 at Rochester, Kent: it sailed between the east coast of England and the north of England, carrying various cargoes. It had its first engine fitted in 1941 and its sailing gear removed when it went into war service in Greenock. It was re-rigged in 1978; it spent some time doing commercial work for Bell's whisky, later working as a charter passenger vessel. Taken on a Pentax *istD with a Sigma 70-300 zoom.

River Thames: sailing barge Hydrogen, 30 August 2004. More info in Alt Text. 📷 #photo #photograph #photography #RiverThames #Thames #sailingbarge #barge #Hydrogen #silhouette #Pentax*istD

Thames Barges at Malden in Essex. #thamesbarges #historicboats #malden #essex #sailingbarge

Sailing barges, such as Xylonite, were once common on the River Thames, with 2,000 or so once registered to carry freight up and down the river. They're still a regular sight on the river and elsewhere, usually uner power rather than sail. Here, Xylonite is 'under sail' with the red ochre sails and white hull bright against the sky and puffy clouds.

A sailing barge, Xylonite, sailing up the River Thames, not far from Gravesend. Taken on June 2016. 📷 #photograph #photography #photo #RiverThames #sailingbarge #Xylonite

The sailing barge Reminder, moored east of Gravesend on the River Thames. Built in 1929 and with a white hull and red ochre sails, the sails typical of Thames barges. Shot on 13 July 2017, so Reminder was probably present to take part in the annual Thames Barge race. Previously, sailing barges were the main carriers of freight into London.

I live in Gravesend, on the south bank of the River Thames. It's a great place for seeing things, from canoes to container ships. This is a sailing barge, Reminder, seen in July 2017. 📷#photograph #photography #photo #sailingbarge #Reminder