Probably 20th century hulk assemblage, 'Maldon Barge Graveyard', Blackwater Estuary (EHER 82000)

Assemblage of approximately 15 hulked barges and boats located to the east of Maldon Leisure Centre in the Blackwater Estuary. Some may have been recorded in a survey of 1987 but not all of the vessels can be identified securely. The assemblage contains the remains of the Thames sailing barges British Lion of Rochester (EHER 13735); Mamgu of London (EHER 13739); William Cleverly of Rochester (EHER 13744); Pretoria of Faversham (EHER 13741) and Vicuna of London (EHER 82001). It is these that give the site its local name: the Maldon Barge Graveyard. Also amongst the hulks are the remains of a lighter, a steel mooring pontoon, an Admiralty launch, two fishing vessels and several other vessels.

An assemblage of possibly 15 or more hulked boats in various states of decay. As well as the remains of a lighter; a steel mooring pontoon, an Admiralty launch, two fishing vessels and several other vessels, the remains or ‘barge bottoms’ of five Thames Sailing Barges lie here: British Lion of Rochester (EHER 13735); Mamgu of London (EHER 13739); and William Cleverly of Rochester (EHER 13744), which were joined at some time after 1981 (perhaps after 1987, and before 1996) by Pretoria of Faversham (EHER 13741) and Vicuna of London (EHER 82001). It is these that give the site its local name: the Maldon Barge Graveyard. The fate of the barges at Maldon's barge graveyard illustrates the general fate of Thames sailing barges. We don't yet know the full history of how they came to be left at the Barge Graveyard, though by 1996 all the barges were as lying there. <1> The remains of the boats can be seen on Google Earth aerial imagery. At least six vessels can be picked out. <2> Note: Whilst the identities of the barges are known, it has not been possible to distinguish them from one another and the linked records for the barges are mapped to the general location of the 'graveyard'. NRHE data transfer: Assemblage of approximately 15 hulked barges located to the east of Maldon Leisure Centre. <3> Some are possibly recorded in 'Society for Spritsail Barge Research. 1987. The Last berth of the sailorman.'� <4> Hulks may have been moved here from other locations. <5>