SB Lady of the Lea
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Lady of the Lea is a spritsail Thames sailing barge, the last such barge to be built in England. She was built in 1931 to carry explosives from Waltham Abbey Royal Gunpowder Mills on the River Lea to Woolwich Arsenal on the River Thames. The barge was later sold and rebuilt. She currently operates as a private yacht and competes in Thames sailing barge matches.
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Thames barge 'Lady of the Lea' moored at Faversham | |
Thames barge 'Lady of the Lea' under sail on the Medway | |
History | |
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United Kingdom | |
Name | Lady of the Lea |
Owner | 1931-1946 War Department
1946-c1953 W Aslett, Sittingbourne from c1953 Ivor R Cantle, Tring by 1980 Brian Pain, Faversham |
Builder | Hyam and Oliver (H. A. Oliver and Sons), Albion Wharf, Rotherhithe |
Commissioned | 1931 |
Identification | British Official Number 722956[1] |
Status | in service |
General characteristics | |
Tonnage | 34 GRT[2] |
Length | 71.93 ft (21.92 m) |
Beam | 12.98 ft (3.96 m) |
Depth | 3.97 feet (1.21 metres) |
Propulsion | Sail and horse-drawn (engined since 1943) |
Sail plan | jib, foresail, topsail and mainsail on the mainmast, and a mizzen sail on mizzen mast |
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