# Tamar barge

A Tamar barge is a masted sailing vessel, designed for carrying cargo along the River Tamar and the south coast of Cornwall.
The Tamar barge can be either a single or double masted vessel. It can carry up to 32 tonnes. Tamar barges were manufactured in the 19th century in the Tamar Valley by boatbuilders such as James Goss of Calstock, Frederick Hawke of Stonehouse, Plymouth and David Banks of Queen Anne’s Battery in Sutton Harbour, Plymouth.
There are only two surviving Tamar barges, both have been almost completely restored. Normally one, Shamrock, is open to visitors at Cotehele Quay and the other, Lynher, is privately owned and moored at Cremyll.
Shamrock is currently undergoing extensive repairs due to lack of maintenance which had led to mould and rot spreading throughout the timbers. The National Trust has launched a fundraising campaign to pay for the repairs to the historic vessel.

## List of known Tamar Barges

| Vessel | Length | Sail Plan | Builder | Date | Place | Fate |
| Annie | 55.7 ft | Cutter | Frederick Hawke | 1899 | Stonehouse, Plymouth | Abandoned at Hooe Lake |
| Bertie | 46.2 ft | Sloop | David Banks and Co. | 1883 | Queen Annes Battery, Plymouth | Abandoned in 1928 at Hooe Lake |
| Commerce | Unknown | Cutter | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| Edith | 54.9 ft | Cutter | Unknown | c1890 | Unknown | Unknown |
| Edward & Sarah | Unknown | Cutter | Edward Brooming | Unknown | Calstock, Devon | Unknown |
| Edwin | 55.1 ft | Unknown | Richard Hill & Sons | 1880 | Cattedown, Plymouth | Abandoned in 1924, partly broken up, at Pomphlett Creek |
| Elizabeth Jane | Unknown | Cutter | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Abandoned at Antony Passage |
| Flora May | 50.5 ft | Cutter | Frederick Hawke | 1897 | Stonehouse, Plymouth | Operated between Danescombe Quay and Plymouth Later abandoned at Saltash |
| Gwendoline | Unknown | Unknown | David Banks and Co. | 1894 | Queen Annes Battery, Plymouth | Unknown |
| Kate | 54 ft | Cutter | Frederick Hawke | 1885 | Stonehouse, Plymouth | Unknown |
| Lillie | 55 ft | Sloop | James Goss | 1899 | Calstock, Devon | Unknown |
| Industry | 40 ft | Sloop | Edward Brooming | 1880 | Calstock, Devon | Unknown |
| Lynher | 51.2 ft | Cutter | James Goss | 1896 | Calstock, Devon | Abandoned in the 1950s at Poldrissick Quay Restored in 1999 by Charlie Force Currently Operational |
| Martin | Unknown | Cutter | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| Mayblossom | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | 1894 | Plymouth | Unknown |
| Myrtle | 50 ft | Sloop | Robert May | 1896 | Danescombe Quay, Calstock, Cornwall | Bomded by the Luftwaffe during the Plymouth Blitz, sank in the Hamoaze, next to Devonport Naval Base. |
| Pearl | 52 ft | Cutter | Frederick Hawke | 1896 | Stonehouse, Plymouth | Abandoned at Hooe Lake |
| Phoenix | 51.9 ft | Cutter | Frederick Hawke | 1900 | Stonehouse, Plymouth | Unknown |
| Reaper | Unknown | Unknown | Frederick Hawke | c1900 | Stonehouse, Plymouth | Unknown |
| Shamrock | 57.5 ft | Ketch | Frederick Hawke | 1899 | Stonehouse, Plymouth | Abandoned in the 1960’s at Hooe Lake Restored in 1975 by the National Trust Currently a Floating Museum |
| Secret | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| Sirdar | Unknown | Cutter | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| Triumph | 56.5 ft | Cutter | Frederick Hawke | 1898 | Stonehouse, Plymouth | Used in WWII, later abandoned at Poldrissick Quay |
| Yealm | Unknown | Unknown | Moore | 1878 | Sutton Pool, Plymouth | Unknown |

## Surviving Tamar barges

* Shamrock, built in 1899 by Frederick Hawke.
* Lynher, built in 1896 by James Goss. Ship of the National Historic Fleet