Barge Collection

Near Bingley (oil on board)
3822454 Near Bingley (oil on board) by Stead, Frederick (1863-1940); 49.1x62 cm; Calderdale Museums Service, West Yorkshire, UK; eCalderdale Borough Council; English, out of copyright

View of the west side of Tower Bridge, London, c1950
View of the west side of Tower Bridge, Stepney, London, c1950, from the beach at Tower Wharf, showing children playing. Barges pass along the river in the background

CANALETTO: THAMES
The River Thames with St. Pauls Cathedral on Lord Mayors Day. Oil on canvas by Giovanni Antonio Canaletto, c1750

Maldon, a Blackwater Estuary town known for its Thames Sailing Barges, Essex, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Tate & Lyle Refinery
A coastal barge sailing by the famous Tate and Lyle sugar refinery works, Plaistow Wharf, off Silvertown, North Woolwich, east London

Liverpool Docks
The Princes Half-tide Dock, Liverpool, Merseyside, England, showing a steam ship pulling an industrial barge

Battersea Power Station
Designed by Giles Gilbert Scott, building began in 1933. It was the first of a series of very large electric generators set up in order to nationalize the grid

THAMES BARGE SARA
Calm waters, a fine impression of the sailing barge Sara on the River Thames, England. Date: 1960s

Maldon, a Blackwater Estuary town known for its Thames Sailing Barges, Essex, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Thames Sailing Barge
A Thames sailing barge is a type of commercial sailing boat once common on the River Thames in London. The flat-bottomed barges with a shallow draught and leeboards

GWR Publicity Poster, London, 1946
The poster was produced by the GWR just after the Second World War. It was designed by Frank Henry Mason. The huge dome of St Pauls Cathedral dominates the skyline

Tower of London in the late Middle Ages
London during the time of Henry VII (1457-1509). Color lithograph reproduction of an illuminated manuscript: Roy 16F, ii

Brightly painted barge and oast houses on the River Medway, Yalding, near Maidstone, Kent, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Henley Bridge, Henley-on-Thames, London, 1803

Queen Victorias new barge for Virginia Water, 1877. The royal four oared barge measures 30 foot, and was built by A. and C. Burgoyne of Kingston-upon-Thames. Date: 1877

Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, built 1795 to 1805, UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the Ellesmere Canal, Llangollen, Denbighshire, Wales, United Kingdom, Europe

Lancashire Cotton Barge
Barges loaded with bales of raw cotton, destined for the cotton mills, Leeds - Liverpool Canal, Blackburn, Lancashire, England. Date: 1930s

Mute swans and barge on River Severn, spring evening, Worcester Cathedral, Worcester, Worcestershire, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Erie Canal barge at Troy, New York
Barge on the Erie Canal at West Troy, New York, in the late 1800s. Hand-colored halftone reproduction of a 19th-century illustration

British Narrowboat
Narrow boats lashed together, on the Trent and Mersey Canal, near Northwich, Cheshire, England

Entrance to Regents Canal Dock, Limehouse, London, 1828. Artist: Frederick James Havell
Entrance to Regents Canal Dock, Limehouse, London, 1828. View with boats and crew on Regents Canal and figures on the dockside

The Danube River and Buda Castle, Budapest, Hungary, Europe

GLC-LFB Fire boat - Fire Hawk
Entering service in February 1976, the Fire Hawk was built by Watercraft of Shoreham at a cost of £ 60, 000. Measuring 45 feet in length, 13.5 inch beam and with a 3.5 foot draft

Erie Canal locks
Boat in the Erie Canal locks at Lockport, New York, 1870s. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

Horse-Drawn Canal Barge
On the road: two canal barges are pulled along by horses on the river bank; the lead horse is tempted onwards with a bowl of food

Regents Canal / Limehouse
Regents Canal (Grand Union), entrance at Limehouse

Wallingford Castle in 1810 During Bridge Repairs, engraved by Robert Havell the Younger
STC218479 Wallingford Castle in 1810 During Bridge Repairs, engraved by Robert Havell the Younger (1793-1878) published 1818 (aquatint) by Havell

The motor yacht La Toquade at anchor, 1939. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The motor yacht La Toquade at anchor, 1939

Canal du Midi, Aude, Languedoc, France

Erie Canal at Schenedtady, New York
Erie Canal barge towed through Schenectady, New York, 1800s. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

Scotland, Scottish Highlands, Fort Augustus. A sequence of Canal Locks on the Caledonian Canal near Fort Augustus

Scotland, Scottish Highlands, Fort Augustus. Tourist sight seeing barge moored on the Caledonian Canal in Fort Augustus

Manchester Ship Canal, 19th century
Manchester Ship Canal, 19th-century artwork. This canal, constructed between 1887 and 1893, opened on 1 January 1894. It provided a route for shipping from the Mersey Estuary to Manchester, UK

O Connell Bridge and River Liffey, Dublin, Ireland

Sailing Barge Match on the Thames, July 1864
Engraving of a sailing barge match on the Thames, from the Illustrated London News, 23rd July 1864. This match was hosted by the Prince of Wales Yacht Club over a course from Erith to the Chapman

Pyne - Bargemen
THAMES BARGE MEN Barges are an essential part of the transport system, bringing coal for fires, hay for horses, by river and canal

Barges in the Pool of London. River Thames and Tower Bridge, London, 1962. Artist: CM Dixon
Barges in the Pool of London. River Thames and Tower Bridge, London, 1962. Part of the Tideway of the Thames, the Pool of London was navigable by tall-masted vessels bringing coastal

Durnstein, Austria, Wachau Valley, Danube River

The late John Corello moors his boat ( Spray ) at Dell Quay, Chichester Harbour
West Sussex County Council West Sussex Record Office 1985-2000 Collections: David Johnston Collection

Thelwall Viaduct, UK
Thelwall Viaduct, Warrington, Cheshire, UK. This bridge carries the M6 motorway across the River Mersey and the Manchester Ship Canal

Royal visit to Henley Regatta by State Barge
King George V, Queen Mary and Princess Mary attending the Henley Regatta in the Royal Barge. The barge was built in 1689 by William III for his Consort, Queen Mary

Thames Barge
Thames barge, used for carrying hay and other commodities

Canal boats on The River Ouse - Ely - Cambridgeshire - England - UK
CAN-3210 Canal boats on the River Ouse, Ely, Cambridgeshire, England John Cancalosi Please note that prints are for personal display purposes only and may not be reproduced in any way

River Douro and sherry boats (port barges), Porto (Oporto), Portugal, Europe

Canal du Midi, near Beziers, Languedoc-Roussillon, France, Europe

Dutch Girl & Tulips
A Dutch girl in traditional dress picks tulips near a canal, with the obligatory windmill and barge in view

All Professionally Made to Order for Quick Shipping

"Barge: Navigating Through History and Beauty" From the picturesque Canaletto paintings depicting the bustling Thames to the Liverpool Docks, where these mighty vessels once ruled the waters, barges have left an indelible mark on our maritime heritage. The iconic image of the Thames Barge Sara gracefully sailing through Maldon, a Blackwater Estuary town in Essex, evokes a sense of nostalgia for simpler times. Inextricably linked to industry, barges played a crucial role in transporting goods such as sugar from Tate & Lyle Refinery or coal from Battersea Power Station along London's waterways. A GWR Publicity Poster from 1946 showcases their efficiency and reliability as they traversed canals and rivers with ease. Venturing beyond British shores, we find ourselves captivated by the enchanting sight of brightly painted barges harmoniously coexisting with oast houses on the River Medway near Maidstone. This idyllic scene reminds us that they are not just utilitarian vessels but also symbols of cultural identity. Across Europe, barge culture thrives along historic waterways like Pontcysyllte Aqueduct—a UNESCO World Heritage Site—where these sturdy boats navigate breathtaking landscapes alongside Ellesmere Canal. Meanwhile, on Hungary's Danube River lies Buda Castle—a majestic backdrop against which barges glide effortlessly—showcasing their versatility across diverse terrains. Whether it be witnessing Canaletto's art come alive or exploring hidden gems like Maldon or Yalding, each barge tells its own story. These floating marvels connect us to our past while reminding us of their enduring beauty in present-day life. So let us celebrate these magnificent vessels that have shaped history and continue to inspire awe wherever they sail—the timeless allure of a barge is truly unparalleled.