Gloucester Waterways Museum
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3.3 Barge Sabrina 5
Sabrina 5 was one of six
unpowered barges built in 1944 by Charles Hill & Sons of Bristol
for the Ministry of War Transport. During the war, many ships were
diverted from London to the west coast ports, and barges were
needed to distribute the cargoes quickly. Initially they were
managed by the Severn Carrying Co, and after the canals were nationalised in 1948,
they were operated by what became British Waterways.
Cargoes
Towed everywhere
by tugs, the barges were mainly used for carrying 130 to 150 tons
of imports from Avonmouth to Worcester or Stourport via the Gloucester
& Sharpness Canal and the River Severn. Each barge was crewed
by two men, who shared a cabin in the stern under the wheelhouse.
The principal cargoes were metals such as copper, zinc, steel and
aluminium, and foodstuffs such as wheat, cheese, cocoa beans and
tinned tomatoes. Dried fruit was fumigated while on board to kill
off any parasites. Occasionally there was an outward cargo, and some
trips were made to other ports in the Bristol Channel, but these
were rare.
Cargo Hold and Stanchions
The hold is covered by longitudinal
hatch-boards supported on four rolling frames. When loading
and unloading, these frames can be pushed along to the end of
the hatch opening to allow large items to be handled easily.
The boards are covered by waterproof tarpaulins that are held
in place by battens and wedges around the hatch combing, and
strings are lashed over the top to stop the tarpaulins lifting.
The stanchions and chains running along the side decks were intended
to fold down when loading or unloading, but they were easily damaged
if the barge came alongside another vessel with an overhanging side.
There are two latches at the top of the rudder post These were disengaged
when the barge was moored so that if the rudder was knocked by another
vessel the steering mechanism would not get damaged.
Wheelhouse and Cabin
The
wheelhouse could be partly taken down to get under low bridges when
the barge was empty. The roof is of plywood covered with canvas
and is light enough to be lifted off. The upper parts of the four
sides could then be folded down by undoing four butterfly nuts.
This left the anchor winch forward as the highest point on the barge,
although the wheel was almost at the same level. Water was stored
in the tank in the wheelhouse. The stern cabin provided living accommodation
for the crew of three. There were originally three bunks (one suspended
from the deck above) and there were two ventilators (now temporarily
capped).
Driven Ashore
On one trip in 1949, Sabrina
5 was driven ashore west of Portishead when a tow-rope parted
in a gale. The crew had to hang on for dear life as the barge crashed
into the rocks several times before settling down, and they had
to remain in their wheelhouse with waves breaking over them for
about an hour before helpers appeared on the shore. Then lines were
thrown to the helpers, and the men were able to scramble over the
rocks through the breaking waves to safety. Sabrina 5 was refloated
on the following day.
A New Life
In the 1960s, the barge traffic
to the Midlands was adversely affected by the growing use of containers
and lorries, and the barge fleet was formally disbanded in 1969,
although some movements continued into the early 1970s. After several
years of idleness, Sabrina 5 was restored at R W Davis &
Son's yard at Saul, and in 1988 she became an exhibit at the Museum.
In 2004, she was given a new role, as access ways were installed
so that her hold could be used as a performance venue with seating
for up to 90 people.
For more information and photographs about these barges, see The Barge Sabrina Story (720KB pdf) and the video on Level 2 of the Museum showing them in operation.
For Index to Museum Notes, see www.gloucesterdocks.me.uk/museumnotes