The Dolphin Yard Sailing Barge Repair Yard and Museum on Milton Creek, Sittingbourne, closed its doors at the end of October 2005. This ancient barge-building and repair yard was discovered in a derelict condition by Tony Ellis on June 1968. A charitable trust was established and a 14-year renewable lease was settled with the then owners at a peppercorn rent of £1 per annum. In 2004 the owners of the site gave notice to the Dolphin Sailing Barge Museum Trust. Legal advice was taken and it was decided that since the original agreement was reached, decisions under precedent were balanced against the Trust retaining the site – and the small charity has insufficient funds to challenge the decision.

Over 37 years, the site had been enhanced by volunteers to offer a range of facilities based around the original barge repair blocks, sail loft and forge. The main asset was the space to moor large wooden craft at reasonable rates while undergoing repair, and the space for the equipment and baulks of timber (the sort of thing that doesn’t really fit into the scheme of things at a modern marina). A range of barges have come and gone down the years – Convoy, Cabby, Revival, Victor, Lyford Anna, Oak, Anglia, Glenway, Ethel Maud, Saxon, Cambria, Celtic – to name but a few. Most of the work on Glenway was done on the barge block before she went to Maldon. However, Ian Ruffles has had to dispose of the Oak although it’s not all sad news, as many barges have gained from her gear. The Celtic is still there, with her owner not so well in a home – I don’t know what will become of her. The last barge to dress her sails at the yard was Adieu, owned and skippered bi Iolo Brooks, a couple of years ago. The last barge to sail out of the yard was Phoenician after a scrub off on the blocks with Ian Ruffles as skipper.

The Museum is now in deep trouble! It is boxing itself up but has no new home to go to, so anyone with a suitable building they could offer for very little money, or any funds that could be put to help sort out a building for the Museum, please contact Jonathan Rochford, North Seafaring Project Officer, on 01206 863513