There is an organisation driving the acceptance of harbours as heritage ‘hot spot’ worthy of protection and an enhanced ability to attract funds. The forefront of this is currently bedded in the Thames Estuary area.

The initiative held a meeting recently and interested persons should contact Brian Corbett at briancorbett@aol.com for further information and or the joining of a mailing list.

UK Heritage Harbour Initiative is a joint long term plan by the Maritime Heritage Trust and National Historic Ships Shipshape Network to transform historic harbours.

Without going into too much detail it would be best to have a look.

See: https://maritimeheritage.org.uk/component/zoo/item/heritage-harbours-update

The report is wide ranging and cover the whole of the UK and Eire.

I have added a few pictures of some places mentioned on the east coast – greater Thames Estuary…

Not all are signed up participants yet.

From further afield, I found a picture for Sandwich. I was surprised to find that Rye has not made moves to join the group.

The Medway group with Medway City Council are in discussion with the directors of Sail Training International to bring the tall ships to the river in 2025.

That would be brilliant!

If you haven’t ‘mixed it’ with these fabulous sail training vessels, it is a fantastic experience. Most ‘east coasters’ are used to the ubiquitous tan sailed spritsail barge and smack, but tall ships, they’re something different!