Greta was constructed in 1891 at Stone's yard in Brightlingsea, a boat-building town on the River Colne in Essex known for its barges. The vessel was built for a barge sailmaker named Hibbs, who is noted for perfecting a sail treatment process that extended the working life of sails to fifteen years. According to John Leather in his book Barges (Adlard Coles, 1984), Hibbs developed a dressing that included horse fat, which gave the sails their distinctive shine, durability, and traditional color. Later, oil and red ochre were also incorporated into the treatment.

Hibbs subsequently sold Greta to Owen Parry, a barge owner renowned for his fleet of working boats, which were highly regarded for their smart appearance and racing success. Felix Mallett was appointed as Greta’s first skipper under Parry’s ownership, sailing the vessel under his yellow and black house flag. Greta transported typical cargoes such as grain, malt, and building materials, as well as more unusual items like spars destined for the German Kaiser’s racing schooner in Kiel.

In 1918, Greta was sold to the Rochester Barge Company, though Mallett remained her skipper until 1926, when he returned to Owen Parry. Early in World War II, Greta was chartered by the Ministry of Supply to transport ammunition from the army depot at Upnor near Rochester, Kent, to naval vessels anchored in the Thames Estuary. Due to the risk of explosion during air raids, dangerous cargo was transferred outside the dock area, further downriver. Greta would come alongside ships at anchor to facilitate the transfer of explosives. She also participated in the evacuation of Dunkirk and continued service as a lighter. The Admiralty released her from war duties in 1946.

Following a comprehensive overhaul and refit, Greta resumed commercial trading, carrying grain, timber, animal feed, and various other cargoes. She frequently transferred goods from ships in the Port of London for distribution to smaller ports, primarily serving the Medway wharves but also sailing as far as Colchester in Essex.

John Tooke of Crescent Shipping Limited recalls a notable trade beginning in late 1947, when Greta started carrying beer from Chatham to Nine Elms, Battersea, London. This trade became continuous due to a unique circumstance: both the master and mate were teetotallers, and the brewery requested that Greta remain on this route. The cargo was shipped under bond, with no incidents of pilfering or breakage, ensuring that H.M. Customs could verify that the exact number of bottles and kegs loaded at Chatham were discharged at Nine Elms.

With the decline of work at the London docks during the early 1960s, Greta was sold and laid up at Whitewall Creek awaiting restoration. Despite extensive modifications when converted into a houseboat, Greta continues to participate in approximately half a dozen East Coast barge matches annually. In 1987, she was the outright champion barge at Southend. It has been suggested that had Greta been designed with a slightly longer run fore and aft, she would have been a formidable racer. Even as an older vessel, she remains notably fast.

In 1989, Greta underwent re-skinning on the starboard side, both inside and out. She is unique among sailing barges in that she serves as both a residence and a competitor in barge matches. Based in Faversham, Steve Norris currently lives aboard, skippers her during races, and occasionally charters the vessel to support ongoing maintenance and restoration efforts.

Additional Information

• Owner: Steve Norris
• Winter Base: Standard Quay, Faversham
• Summer Location: Whitstable Harbour
• Charter Capacity: Up to 12 persons

Greta is available for charters. For inquiries, contact Steve Norris at mobile: 07711 657919 or email: steve@greta1892.co.uk.