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Greta (Thames Barge)

Built in Brightlingsea, Essex in 1892, Greta is a wooden Thames Sailing Barge and is the oldest Dunkirk Little Ship still active. She continues to sail as a pleasure craft, offering day trips around the Thames Estuary including to: the Kentish Flats Wind Farm, Red Sands Army Fort and Reculver Towers. She is recorded on the National Register of Historic Vessels and is a member of the National Historic Fleet.

History

Greta was constructed for Edward Hibbs, a sailmaker based in Brightlingsea by Stone Brothers. Using the skills of his trade, Hibbs coated Greta's sails in a special dressing which contained horse fat. This gave them a recognisable shine as well as resistance to wear and a darker red colour than that commonly seen on surviving barges today.

In 1916, Hibbs sold Greta and she joined a fleet of coastal barges owned by Owen Parry.  Among the cargoes of grain, malt and building products carried by most barges of the era, she is notable for having carried spars for Meteor IV, a racing schooner belonging to the German Kaiser Wilhelm II.  After the First World War, the trade for coastal barges declined and she was sold to the London and Rochester Trading Company(later Crescent Shipping).

Second World War

Greta's contribution to the war effort began early in hostilities when she was charted by the Ministry of Supply to ferry cargoes of ammunition along the River Medway from the munitions depot at Upnor to naval vessels at anchor in the Thames Estuary.

Dunkirk Evacuation

In addition to her work hauling ammunition, Greta was also involved in the evacuation of British troops from Dunkirk in 1940. She was among thirteen Thames barges which made the crossing in May/June 1940 and she is thought to be the oldest surviving active Dunkirk Little Ship. She continues to take part in commemorations of the event and crossed the Channel as part of the 60th, 70th and 75th anniversary celebrations often carrying veterans who had been rescued from the beaches. She had been due to repeat the journey for the 80th anniversary but the event was cancelled in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Post-war

Released from war service in 1946, Greta had a refit, which included the installation of an engine, and returned to trade.

In 1947 she began carrying cargoes of beer, as both her master and mate were teetotallers the brewery specially requested Greta for this task as they could be sure that none of the cargo would go missing.

As the demand for Thames barges declined throughout the 1960s, Greta was sold and laid awaiting restoration.  She was eventually re-rigged in the late 1980s and regularly competed in barge matches during the 1990s. In 1996 she was added to the National Register of Historic Vessels.

Since 2000, she has been owned and operated by Steve Norris. Based at Standard Quay in Faversham, Kent. Currently sponsored by Shepherd Neame brewery and bearing their livery on her distinctive sails, Greta is available for charter and operates a commercial season from April to October offering day trips out of Whitstable Harbour.