Wreck of spritsail barge, 'The Rose', Beaumont Quay (EHER 81766)

Remains of English barge which was hulked at Beaumont Quay after 1961. Originally a spritsail barge constructed in 1880, she had been involved in the coasting trade before being converted to a lighter after 1930. Constructed of wood, she was originally a sailing vessel, but after conversion she would have lacked propulsion.

Original HER entry merged with NRHE data import. The Rose, (official no. 82392), a 42-ton spritsail barge, was built by John Howard at Maldon and was launched on 29th September 1880, owned jointly by Charles Ward, miller, and Charles Hawes and Samuel Thompson, hay merchants of Maldon. She measured 75.3ft x 18.6ft x 5.5ft. After 50 years in the coastal trade she was sold, around 1930, to Cecil Gilders of St. Osyth and Leigh and became a lighter at Heybridge basin. In 1961 she was sold off as a house barge but was never restored. <1> The barge (wreck), length 23.41m is plank built (carvel construction). The barge type is 'swim barge spritsail', an important transitional form between the early barge and the standard spritsail with square end and shallow rounded bows. Some replacement 'claping' is still evident (caulking between planks with hemp). The 'Claps' at the bow and stern and some of the deck are intact. The bottom and hog are still present, the stern post still stands and the rudder is present. There is carving on the port and starboard site of the stern post giving draught, and also carving inside recording loaded and unloaded tonnage and the possible registration number. There is a cast iron pillar with rolled capitol and an intact base. The overall construction consists of wooden pegs, iron plates and brackets, nails, fittings and some copper nails. There is concrete at the deadwood position near the rudder. <2> <3> Tonnage given as 46 tons. Lighter until 1961, hulked; burnt remains visible as at 1986. <4> Site Assessment, 1994 Barge type in good context and still fairly complete although probably past salvaging. Needs full recording and monitoring. <5> RCHME survey, 1996 She is now a decaying hulk in mud near Beaumont Quay and was recorded photographically during the RCHME survey of Beaumont Quay. <5> <6> Photographed 1997 14 photographs of general area <7> Photographed 1998 <8> Photograph showing the wreck site on this website, taken 2002. <9> Photographed 2006 <10> <11> Aerial photograph, 2019 <12> Additional references <13> <14> <15> <16>