S.S.B.R.

   The Society for Sailing Barge Research

 HISTORICAL RECORDS

Various members of the Society hold all sorts of documentation, photographs, information and records concerning the Thames Sailing Barge, the people who built and sailed them and the ports from which they sailed. Most of this information is held in private collections and is not readily available to the general public. However through the auspices of the Society we will where possible try to answer any queries members may have or attempt to put them in touch with members or people who may be able to help. A card index record of almost 4000 Sailing Barges is currently being computerised with a view to being able to provide members with known information on individual vessels.

SSBR ARCHIVE

As a Research Society we have talked for many years about having somewhere belonging to the Society in which we can store barge related documents and photographs which in someway can be accessed by members, barge historians and maritime researchers for the benefit of all. The Society is now in the process of setting up a secure archive within the bounds of the Yacht Station at North Fambridge in Essex. North Fambridge is pretty central in barge terms and has rail station 10 minutes walk away and is approximately half way between Whitstable and Ipswich by road .

 The archive will  house, in appropriate storage conditions, catalogued collections of barge related photographs, documents, visual records & related materials in a format that will enable members & researchers to obtain information where required. 

A sub committee has been formed within the Society to set up and manage the archive. Our Membership Secretary, Margaret Blackburn has kindly agreed to become our Honorary Archivist and Don Wright is our Archive Curator. John White, Richard Walsh and Roger Newlyn being the other sub committee members.  

The sub committee will undertake research on behalf of members. Nominal charges will be made  for photographic reproductions and photocopied material.

ARCHIVE OPENING:

Records in the archive are available for inspection or for research purposes please contact

DON WRIGHT on TEL: 01621 856623  to make an appointment.

So if you have any material, documents, photographs etc. that you no longer require we would be pleased to take them into the Archive. If any of this material is used in later publications or copies sold on, the donor will be suitably accredited.

Curator Don Wright (TEL: 01621 856623)

See Membership Page for Membership details.

Queries may be sent by Email to the Hon. Secretary at john.white6@talk21.com  See Email Page for other contact details. Or by post to John White, 5 Cox Road, Alresford, Colchester, Essex, CO7 8EJ.

Updated 16/06/2011