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Sailing Barge Greta

Part 3

Issue: 1 Updated: 6th September 2017

Concluding our copy free feature

Sailing S.B. Greta off the North Kent Coast

Lying off Whitstable

Sav' takes up the anchor

Red Sands through the morning haze as we make for the River Medway

See Fort Fax for the history of the Thames Estuary forts

"Kettle's on" Val' looking at the Radio Documentary CD collection for sale onboard

For more information go to Offshore Shop

Upstream to the Ross Revenge tethered by Rochester Bridge

She's alongside the old ship breakers yard & overlooked by the Norman Castle

Evening from our overnight mooring on Strood Pier

There's more of Radio Caroline, Radio Monique & the Ross Revenge on the following pages

At Sea with Stuart Vincent : Caroline & Kevin : Caroline 1983&4 : Dutch Connection 1 : Dutch Connection 2 : Eurosiege : Glyns Caroline

Astern of us the Russian submarine U-475 Black Widow

One of the Foxtrot class of 74 built between 1957 - 1983 commissioned in 1967 at Sudomekh Shipyard, Leningrad for the Soviet Navy she was decommisioned in 1994 and sold into private hands

The Ross through an appropriate life-buoy!

Mission accomplished we motor down the River Medway Steve & Sav' ready for a bargeman's breakfast

Upnor woods

Overhauled by tug towing a crane barge Gillingham marina ahead to starboard

WW1 U'Boat in the 1930's

"Flashback" German WWI U Boat UB-122 wreck pictured in the 1930's showing bow net cutter

German WWI U Boat UB-122 (Invicta Kent Media 2014)

UB-122 is in the salting's of the lower Medway around Humble Bee Creek and Damhead Creek, she emurged after storms in 2013 and is the only German Submarine visible in UK waters

German WWI U Boat UB-122 (Invicta Kent Media 2014)

Equiped with 10 torpedoes UB-122 was stripped of its engines and useful metal for scrap

More useful information on visiting the wreck of UB122 by Chris Coulsen of Medway Yacht Club

Note: 26 Submarines were dumped and are littered around the River Medway, two submerged wrecks lie north of the long fuel pier at Hoo St Werburgh

Two German U' Boat generators went to Daventry to power the early broadcast radio station 2LO

Through the Swale to the Kingsferry Road & Rail Bridge that link North Kent to the Isle-of-Sheppey

See Sheppey Through the Ages for a social history of the island & its links to the mainland

Bridge lifts are to a set timetable

The middle road-rail section raised

Bridge staff admire Greta

The middle section back in lowered position

Paper mill cranes

Wreck of an old wooden ferry

Close by seals bask on the warm mud

Out for a "Jolly"

On a Westerly Heading

Martin with Val'on the helm & Steve all supping the sponsors fine Master Brew

A couple of hours out evening approaches

Returning to harbour for a fine sunset across the bay

The late Peter Cushing told me in an interview for BBC Radio that this was his favourite view

Next morning up bright & early

Stern view looking into Dead Man's Corner Whitstable Harbour

A rare sight Val' at the wheel takes a shower without complaint as Greta sets off for lay-up in Faversham at the end of the season

Approaching the old Oyster House now an Insurance Company office on the ground floor with luxury accommodation above

Neighboring barges jostle to make room for Greta at here home port Standard Quay Faversham

"Flashback" Faversham Davington Priory built in 1153 once a Nunnery now home to Sir Bob Geldof

For the full feature navigate from Greta Part 1

For more pictures of Red Sands navigate from Red Sands Rendezvous for pictures off Whitstable's Coast go from : Whitstable Harbour Day 2003

For news on the Red Sands preservation project see Seatribe

For all the Shivering Sands Army Forts & its Radio Stations navigate from Sutch & City 1

For the Navy Forts & their Radio Stations navigate from Radio Essex 222 & Sealand One

For details on all the Thames estuary Forts see Fort Fax

Make sure you also see the NAB "Mystery Tower" the forerunner to the Maunsell Forts in Sailing the Solent

For the range of documentary Offshore Radio CD's, an audio visual tour around a Naval Fort in the Sealand the Grand Tour VCD, books, & a video on the Army & Navy Forts visit the Offshore Shop

For more maritime adventures see South Coast Sailing : Favourite Haunts : Oysters

To book your sail aboard the spritsail barge Greta see Boat Trips

9/1/07 - Web Site Message from: Richard Fishlock

Hi Bob,
I have just been hunting for information on the "Net" & came across you interesting site dedicated to the Sailing Barge Greta, you obviously have an interest in history & know something of the local waters etc maybe there is a chance you may be able to provide me with some information.

I am currently trying to locate information in relation to my Great Grandfather John Fishlock.
He was employed as a police officer for 27 years in the City of Rochester Police force (1864 -1892) in the days before the City & Borough forces amalgamated to form the present unified police force.

On his retirement with the rank of Seargent he still had a sizable family to support and no Social Security in those days so he apparently abtained employment on a steam ferry service running between Upnor & Rochester. (I have in my possession his brass telescope from this period & also an antique brass padlock reputed to have been used on his cash satchel)


I have always assumed that this was a public ferry service though what little information I have been able to obtain to date tends to suggest that the public ferry service for this route existed till about 1884 when the Admiralty extended the Chatham Royal Navy Dockyards. (ie about 8 years before he started work on the ferry) My limited information indicates that there was an Admiralty ferry which serviced the Upnor armament depot till about 1959. So maybe he was employed on this?

I would be most grateful to hear whether you or any of your contacts have any information on the Upnor to Rochester steam ferry. Best wishes -

Richard Fishlock
Mount Barker
South Australia

[email protected]

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