#edithmay

The Thames barge the Edith May is wonderful sight when under full sail. Mainly based from the old dock in Lower Halstow in Kent.

The Westmoreland however is in a very sad state. Certainly not able to copy the Edith May & take locals for day or afternoon tea trips along the Thames or River Medway. The vessel is in bits and stored in a floating container at nearby Otterham Quay.

Lower Halstow has a proud and successful history of brick making and barge building. If you excuse the pun, bricks were the making of the area.

Built at Conyer for Eastwoods the Westmoreland spent her working life in Lower Halstow. Now in her retirement years she badly needs some love and attention but the local parish council voted against her returning to the village dock.

Any local parish council should embrace local-heritage but it seems this one doesn't. 

A group of locals have dreams to restore the Westmoreland. They will succeed of course mainly because of their drive, determination and the basic love of a sailing barge. Perhaps this work won’t happen at Halstow, she might need to relocate to Faversham and that would be a shame. A big shame.

What’s going on with Lower Halstow Parish Council? The Westmoreland is a part of  local history. In a recent parish council poll 340 people voted in favour of restoration, 152 against. Yet at the moment there is no future action planned on this living part of history. The good people of the parish council, those who represent the village need to give permission for the dock to be used.

A big question mark hangs over the Westmoreland. It is a shame the local council can't get behind the project and assist the restoration of the barge by at least giving permission to use the parish dock.

I promise not to use the word < shame > again or until I refer to Lower Halstow Parish Council again.

Further up to date news here: http://www.edithmaybargecharter.co.uk/westmoreland-restoration/

http://www.nationalhistoricships.org.uk/register/2439/westmoreland