Part 3
Issue: 1 Updated: 6th September 2017
Concluding our copy free feature
Sailing S.B. Greta off the North Kent Coast
Lying off Whitstable
Sav' takes up the anchor
Red Sands through the morning haze as we make for the River Medway
See Fort Fax for the history of the Thames Estuary forts
"Kettle's on" Val' looking at the Radio Documentary CD collection
Upstream to the 'Ross Revenge' tethered by Rochester Bridge
She's alongside the old ship breakers yard & overlooked by the Norman Castle
Evening from our overnight mooring on Strood Pier
Astern of us the Russian submarine U-475 Black Widow
One of the Foxtrot class of 74 built between 1957 - 1983 commissioned in 1967 at Sudomekh Shipyard, Leningrad for the Soviet Navy she was decommisioned in 1994 and sold into private hands
The 'Ross Revenge' through an appropriate life-buoy!
Mission accomplished we motor down the River Medway Steve & Sav' ready for a bargeman's breakfast
Upnor Woods
Overhauled by tug towing a crane barge Gillingham marina ahead to starboard
"Flashback" German WWI U Boat UB-122 wreck pictured in the 1930's showing bow net cutter
German WWI U Boat UB-122 (Invicta Kent Media 2014)
UB-122 is in the salting's of the lower Medway around Humble Bee Creek and Damhead Creek, she emurged after storms in 2013 and is the only German Submarine visible in UK waters
German WWI U Boat UB-122 (Invicta Kent Media 2014)
Equiped with 10 torpedoes UB-122 was stripped of its engines and useful metal for scrap
Note: 26 Submarines were dumped and are littered around the River Medway, two submerged wrecks lie north of the long fuel pier at Hoo St Werburgh
Two German U' Boat generators went to Daventry to power the early broadcast radio station 2LO
Through the Swale to the Kingsferry Road & Rail Bridge that link North Kent to the Isle-of-Sheppey
Bridge lifts are to a set timetable
The middle road-rail section raised
Bridge staff admire 'Greta'
The middle section back in lowered position
Paper mill cranes
Wreck of an old wooden ferry
Close by seals bask on the warm mud
Out for a "Jolly"
On a Westerly Heading
Martin with Val'on the helm & Steve all supping the sponsors fine Master Brew
A couple of hours out evening approaches
Returning to harbour for a fine sunset across the bay
The late Peter Cushing told me in an interview for BBC Radio that this was his favourite view
Next morning up bright & early
Stern view looking into Dead Man's Corner Whitstable Harbour
A rare sight Val' at the wheel takes a shower without complaint as Greta sets off for lay-up in Faversham at the end of the season
Approaching the old Oyster House now an Insurance Company office on the ground floor with luxury accommodation above
Neighboring barges jostle to make room for Greta at here home port Standard Quay, Faversham
"Flashback" 'Davington Priory', Faversham was built in 1153 once a Nunnery now home to Sir Bob Geldof
9/1/07 - Web Site Message from: Richard Fishlock Hi Bob, I have just been hunting for information on the "Net" & came across you interesting site dedicated to the Sailing Barge Greta, you obviously have an interest in history & know something of the local waters etc maybe there is a chance you may be able to provide me with some information.
I am currently trying to locate
information in relation to my Great Grandfather John Fishlock.
He was employed as a police officer for 27 years in the City of Rochester Police
force (1864 -1892) in the days before the City & Borough forces amalgamated
to form the present unified police force.
On his retirement with the rank of Seargent he still had a sizable family to support and no Social Security in those days so he apparently abtained employment on a steam ferry service running between Upnor & Rochester. (I have in my possession his brass telescope from this period & also an antique brass padlock reputed to have been used on his cash satchel)
I have always assumed that this was a public ferry service though what little
information I have been able to obtain to date tends to suggest that the public
ferry service for this route existed till about 1884 when the Admiralty extended
the Chatham Royal Navy Dockyards. (ie about 8 years before he started work on
the ferry) My limited information indicates that there was an Admiralty ferry
which serviced the Upnor armament depot till about 1959. So maybe he was employed
on this?
I would be most grateful to hear whether you or any of your contacts have any information on the Upnor to Rochester steam ferry. Best wishes - Richard Fishlock, Mount Barker, South Australia rfishlock@cobweb.com.au