West Mersea

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The GuardianAug 8, 2026

‘I haven’t felt this present for months’: sail back in time on a Thames barge in Essex

You don’t have to be a sailor to cruise the estuaries of Essex on this historic craft. The skipper will show you the ropes – or just sit back and enjoy the ride In a darkened room in Maldon, Essex, a ship’s lantern illuminates the laundry drying on a web of ropes suspended from the ceiling. Between piles of sailing memorabilia, 86-year-old Barry Pearce is flipping through a yellowing logbook, w…

9 things in this story
  • Shingle PointSightlocation for a swim off Mersea Island
  • Mersea IslandSightisland visited during the barge trip
  • Elsewhere
  • CentaurPlaceMaldon, United Kingdomhistoric Thames sailing barge built in 1895
  • PudgePlaceMaldon, United KingdomThames sailing barge owned by the trust
  • Thames Sailing Barge TrustPlaceMaldon, United Kingdomcharity run entirely by volunteers
  • Little Ship ClubRestaurantMaldon, United Kingdompub on the quay where sea shanties are sung
  • Tollesbury MarinaSightTollesbury, United Kingdomstop for a Pimm's during a river cruise
  • Radio CarolineMuseumMaldon, United Kingdomformer pirate radio station on the Ross Revenge
  • National Lottery Heritage FundPlaceMaldon, United Kingdomawarded funds to restore Centaur
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