Barges and Lighters
In 1950 a motor barge was to be the first ever steel vessel to be built at Berwick. Over the years more barges and lighters would follow.
Kelvin was the engine of choice for the early motor barges such as Naughton. The first ever steel vessel to be built at Berwick was the 90’ motor barge Naughton that took to the Tweed on the 16th May 1951. Naughton was one of three motor barges built for the London and Rochester Trading Company. The others, Gold and Silver, were launched a year apart in December 1951 and December 1952. All three vessels were powered by Kelvin diesel engines. Naughton was originally fitted with the Kelvin 66hp K3 model. After entering service this was later replaced by the more powerful 88hp K4 engine fitted to Gold and Silver. The three Berwick-built motor barges joined a fleet of over 150 vessels operated by the London and Rochester Trading Company and during their working lives operated on the Thames and Medway.
Naughton and Gold took their names after characters from the famous British comedy act the ‘Crazy Gang’ that comprised of three double acts – Jimmy Nervo and Teddy Knox, Bud Flanagan and Chesney Allen and Charlie Naughton and Jimmy Gold who appeared together on stage and radio alongside ‘Monsewer’ Eddie Gray. Naughton and Gold joined Nervo and Knox two other ‘Crazy Gang’ vessels, already in service with the London and Rochester Trading Company that had been build elsewhere. In 2006 Naughton was still in use as a houseboat on the River Strood in Kent.
Listed in the 2006 - 2007 edition of Lloyds Register of Ships is Silver, (Official Number 184228), built at Berwick by William Weatherhead and Sons in 1952. The vessel is listed as being owned and operated by a Nigerian company, Joseph Yambode and Sons Ltd. Almost 55 years old, Silver must be the oldest Berwick-built vessel still in operational service.
Workers look admiringly at Gold - the second of the 'Crazy Gang' barges built for the London and Rochester Trading Company. Photo: D. Redfearn Collection
Photo:© Bill ToddFollowing the take-over of the Berwick yard by Fairmile from William Weatherhead and Sons in 1953, two further motor barges of a similar design to the London and Rochester Trading Company vessels were constructed. These were Taffy and Binnie both completed in 1954. Built for the Commissioners for the Crown Colonies the vessels were registered in Kuching, Borneo and were designed for operating on the River Sarawak and short sea trips. Like the other motor barges constructed before them Taffy and Binnie were fitted with Kelvin diesels but this time the latest 6-cylinder 132 hp K6 model that provided sufficient power for towing a pair of small barges also built at Berwick.
The yard build list reveals the different types and purposes of the barges and lighters built at Berwick along with their varied destinations. These included hopper barges, dumb barges, salvage barges and barges for storing water and fuel.
Other powered vessels of note built at Berwick include two Ramped Power Lighters, Kennet (RPL 10) and Loddon (RPL 11) built for the Royal Logistics Corps of the British Army in 1966. Weighing 100 tons full load displacement and powered by two Rolls Royce C6S FLM diesels each developing 435 hp both vessels were sold out of the service in 1984. Powered lighters of a more traditional design were also constructed for the Admiralty in 1957.
A powered lighter built for the Admiralty about to enter the water for the first time in 1957.
Photo: © John Richardson
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