Ship profile for the sailing ship: "Lady Daphne"
Photos of the sailing ship:
Please click into a photo to see it in higher resolution.
Source, location, date:
Volker Gries,
Colne Smack and Barge Match Race, Brightlingsea, GB,
09/2006
Source, location, date:
Volker Gries,
London,
07/2018
Technical data of the sailing ship:
| Name: | Lady Daphne |
| Registered port: | London |
| Base port: | Charlestown Harbour |
| Nation: | GBR |
| Type of rigging: | BARGE |
| Type of ship: | Thames Sailing Barge |
| Year built: | 1923 |
| Yard: | Short Bros. Ltd, Backfields, Rochester, GBR |
| Overall length: | 27.67 m |
| Breadth: | 6.52 m |
| Draught: | 2.23 m |
| Ship's hull: | Holz / Wood |
Portrait of the sailing ship:
Last update: 25 May 2025
- built 1923 as wooden Thames sailing barge for the English coastal trade by Short Bros. Ltd, Backfields, Rochester for David J. Bradley, Rochester, GB; named the "Lady Daphne".
- 1932 fitted with an oil engine (4 cyl. 4SA Kelvin) and wheel house.
- 1937 sold to R. & W. Paul (Maltsters) Ltd., Ipswich, GB; general overhaul.
- damaged in a collision with a steam ship on the river Thames, repaired in 1946.
- 1947 fitted with a new engine.
- after removal of her rigging in 1957 she was used as a motor barge until 1973.
- in Sept. 1973 sold to Taylor Woodrow Property Ltd., London, rerigged and converted to a promotional and charter barge.
- in Jan. 1986 re-engined with a Mermaid Mariner (Ford 2725E).
- since 1996 owned by Elisabeth and Michael Mainelli who were raising funds through charter to maintain and restore her to her original condition, carries a passenger certificate today for sailing with guests on day trips, managed by Nymph Limited.
- 2017 sold to new owners, used as charter barge.
- 2020-21 several restoration work during the covid lockdown.
- since 2022 she belongs to the fleet of ships in Charlestown Habour/GBR available for event hire, ongoing restoration works.
- 2024/25 taken over by Tiller & Wheel CIC and transfer to Rochester (Lower Halstow), GBR.
Contact:
Website (English, 28 Feb 2008):http://www.lady-daphne.co.uk/
Lady Daphne: website with history, pictures and contact information
Literature for further reading:
We recommend the following references for your further research of the ship. The references marked with have been included in the generation of the ship profile on this page.
Paul Brown
"Historic Sail. Britain's Surviving Working Craft"
The History Press 2013 ISBN: 978-0-7524-8581-2
(in Association with National Historic Ships UK)
Page: 106, 108 Source with picture Source with history Source with technical data