Riverside-Trade
The earliest paintings and photographs of brigantines, two masted sailing ships are shown here. They are rigged square on the foremast and fore-and-aft on the mainmast. Some times the brigantines had to be lightened at Kyson Point before proceeding to the quays on Woodbridge Pool.
The painting shown here was by George James Rowe, an outstanding artist.
In this photograph the lines of the hull can be seen clearly.
Soon the spritsail barges took over from the brigantines. Their shallow drafts made it easier to reach all parts of the river.
Unloading a spritsail barge.
The cluster of five men in the centre of this photograph were unloading coal. The two men on the left had pristine white collars and one of them had white shoes. There job was to record how much coal was unloaded.
Many people believe that this photograph shows how busy the barge traffic was. Nothing could be further from the truth. The barges were laid up because they were redundant.
Barge traffic is beginning make way for sailing for pleasure.
The steamer Magrietha making its last visit to Sun Wharf.
The steamer Fairy unloading coal at Gladwell’s Quay.
