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Westmoreland in Lower Halstow Dock in the early 1960s with the Brickfields in the background. |
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Westmoreland as she stands today. |
The last surviving Kent Brick Barge and famous racer, Westmoreland has lain derelict for 40 years but a Heritage Lottery Bid is now underway to save her.
Westmoreland Trust CIC are a 'not for profit' community interest company established to restore Thames Sailing Barge Westmoreland and are speaking to Heritage Lottery Fund about a major grant application.
Westmoreland was saved from Standard Quay in Faversham and moved to Otterham Quay. Now she is back home in Lower Halstow Creek after many years away! This move has only been possible with the support of those willing to defer payment for towing her there.
Built in 1900 in Conyer, she worked from Lower Halstow for 60 years, taking bricks from the Brickfields there up to London. The Brickfields and the last Barge that serviced them are a vital part of the local heritage, Westmoreland Trust hope to tell the story of that lost industry using the Barge, once she is fully restored.
Westmoreland was saved from Standard Quay in Faversham and moved to Otterham Quay. Now she is back home in Lower Halstow Creek after many years away! This move has only been possible with the support of those willing to defer payment for towing her there.
Built in 1900 in Conyer, she worked from Lower Halstow for 60 years, taking bricks from the Brickfields there up to London. The Brickfields and the last Barge that serviced them are a vital part of the local heritage, Westmoreland Trust hope to tell the story of that lost industry using the Barge, once she is fully restored.
The Heritage Lottery process is likely to take up to two years but in the short term funds are needed to pay for moving Westmoreland to her dry Dock and for the ongoing insurance and ancillary costs until such time as other funding streams are secured.
It is intended that she be moored on a swinging mooring in Lower Halstow Creek prior to being moved back into the dock at Lower Halstow, from where she traded for 60 years. If the Heritage Lottery Fund bid is successful she will be restored to her former glory and operating from the dock once again.
The Thames Sailing Barge needs to be protected while the Heritage Lottery Fund bid is prepared. Westmoreland is slipping away and this project is no doubt the last chance to save her.
So please get behind the project and help raise the funds to keep her safe until the Heritage Lottery bid can be submitted.
Please pledge if you can by visiting the Thames Sailing Barge Westmoreland JustGiving page: Here
If you are on Facebook then you can stay up to date with her progress by visiting their page: Here and clicking 'Like'.
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