Trading ketch "Bessie Ellen" in dry dock

click image to enlarge

On our recent Gloucester visit we came across the West Country trading ketch, "Bessie Ellen", in the T. Nielsen & Company dry dock undergoing refurbishment. This sailing ship was built in 1904, is 120 feet long, and began life carrying up to 150 tons of clay, peat, aggregates, salt and other bulk cargos around the UK and Ireland. Its working life around Britain carrying goods ended in 1947 when it was bought by a Danish company for work in the Baltic Sea. A diesel engine was installed and this helped keep the ship competitive until the 1970s. Back in the UK "Bessie Ellen" was adapted to offer sailing holidays, day trips and the "tall ship" experience for groups of 12-60 people.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Nikon D5300

Restoring the sailing barge "Gladys"

On a walk through Gloucester Docks we came upon the sailing barge "Gladys". It was undergoing restoration in the dry dock of T. Nielsen & Co. The spritsail barge was built in 1901 at Harwich. For sixty years, from 1912 to 1972, it operated as a bulk grain cargo vessel. A diesel engine was added to "Gladys" in the early 1950s. In the 1970s the barge was used as a pleasure yacht and in more recent times has been the provider of corporate entertainment.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Nikon D5300