Thames Sailing Barges are vessels of antiquity, born at a time when they were made to fuel and boost the British economy during a distant technological boom known as the Industrial Revolution.

So productive was their use that over 2000 them graced the waters of the river Thames helping to build Victorian London.
More than 120 years on in our modern age of technology, few people are aware that these major assets of Britain's heritage are being lost to the misfortune of disrepair?

Out of the 2250 or more barges that were once built, only low tens in number remain, yet not all are deemed active, though every single barge has maintenance and repair issues to keep them in commission.

To raise their profile and acquire needed publicity, there will be a historic parade on London’s river Thames of Thames Sailing Barges in the afternoon of 17 September 2016 (locations and times updated through @TSBParade and www.thamessailingbargeparade.com).

The plan is for the sailing barges to set off from the Docklands / Canary Wharf area - heart of the modern financial district, highlighting that Britain became a financial powerhouse through the Industrial Revolution which Thames Sailing Barges were so much a part of.

From there the barges will head to the historic Pool of London where they frequented in their heyday – moving cargo and building Victorian London. The barges then hope to proceed through a raised Tower Bridge – like a guard of honour salute.
After that, the barges will turn, line up, then set sail (conditions permitting) before mooring in West India Dock.

At West India Dock, they will become a Pop-up Museum where the public will have full access to the partaking barges, on 18-09-2016 (South Quay — DLR — South Dock), so that they can learn of the barges history as well as meet, mingle, eat, wine and dine at the shoreside hospitality area with barge owners, crew members, publicists and historians.

It’s a free family event so please come