ID: ML2015_006_P58 / Ron Green

TitleMemory Lane - sailing barge up the Ray Channel
AbstractOn Thursday 23rd May, there was a unique step back in time when a sailing barge sailed all the way up Ray Channel to Shell Bungalow , Peldon.

Des Kaliszewski, a native of Heybridge Basin, has been sailing the little barge CYGNET to many remote places around the East Coast and the Thames Estuary for a number of years now and has tried to reach Shell Bungalow before without success. This time he did get there, anchored, went ashore and had a cup of tea with Johnny and Pat Milgate. John tells me he stayed for about twenty minutes.

Des sailed the barge all the the way up but had to use the engine on the way back in a short part of the twisting creek where the wind was dead ahead.

Fortunately Ralph Merry was on hand with his camera and took several photographs, one of which is shown above.

CYGNET is a true ex.working barge, not a modern replica and is one of the oldest working barges still in comission having been built in Kent way back in 1881. She was built to work in and around Harwich harbour taking small loads locally. John believes it must be over 100 years since a barge sailed up to to the head of Ray Channel with and load of manure for the farms. They also use to load hay there for the London horses. He recalls old Peldoner Bert Ponder remembers a barge coming up in 1908 to load hay which used to be stacked in the field behind where Lohnny and Pats bungalow now stands
So much has changed over the last one hundred years.

Article published in Mersea Life, June 2015.

AuthorRon Green
SourceMersea Museum
IDML2015_006_P58
Related Images:
 Sailing barge CYGNET at Shell Bungalow, Peldon  IA01_271
ImageID:   IA01_271
Title: Sailing barge CYGNET at Shell Bungalow, Peldon
Date:23 May 2015
Source:Mersea Museum / Ralph Merry
 May 2015 Des Kaliszewski sailed his barge CYGNET up Pyefleet to the Strood. It is many years since barges regularly came up to the Strood to unload at the wharf there. The view is looking southwest towards West Mersea.  PP4_CYG_828
ImageID:   PP4_CYG_828
Title: May 2015 Des Kaliszewski sailed his barge CYGNET up Pyefleet to the Strood. It is many years since barges regularly came up to the Strood to unload at the wharf there. The view is looking southwest towards West Mersea.
Date:22 May 2015
Source:Mersea Museum / Phil Passfield