I have recently read a book published from the diaries of George Winn who started life in barges from a very young age and at eight years old was third hand aboard the barge ‘Francis' with his father as skipper and twelve year old brother as mate. The book records the hardships of working life in the 19 th century and the strict discipline imposed and required in order to survive.

Although no mention is made of barge matches, it is evident that in working on passage from Sittingbourne to London and back, there was a competitive spirit to get the best from the barge. To beat the nearest rival, often in craft which were leaking and barely fit for their purpose, would determine a skipper’s progress in striving to survive.

Today we work to a different regime, but the same effort is required to keep the long established traditions alive amongst bargemen. The consequence of winning or losing the race no longer determines whether there will be a meal at the table, but the prowess of sailing smartly means as much now as then.

Welcome once again to the Medway Barge Match.

Geoffrey Gransden

For general enquiries please email:

info@medwaybargematch.co.uk