James Keeble

DAWN was built in Maldon, Essex in the late 1890s for James Keeble, a local merchant and bargeowner by the jobbing shipwright Walter Cook. She was launched in 1897, from the North Wall Yard, close to Maldon Hythe Quay.

This corresponded with development of the motor lorry just prior to the Second World War. Although the remaining barges were kept busy during the war years, the gradual decline had started.

Most of the smaller barges were abandoned during this period, apart from a few who were used as lighters. Fortunately, these included the DAWN.

At the start of World War II, DAWN was commandeered by the Government for war service and was loaded with supplies for the British Expeditionary Force fighting in northern France. Barges were found to be particularly useful at Dunkirk as they could go right up to the beach to pick up the men.

DAWN was taken to Dover on her way to Dunkirk where the evacuation of troops had already begun. She was hit by an Admiralty tug in the harbour and started to make water and was thus compelled to return to Maldon. Although she does appear on the register of the Dunkirk Little Ships.

1933

In 1933, DAWN was sold to Francis & Gilders, Colchester, to transfer corn and timber from ships to the mills and merchants of Maldon, Colchester and Ipswich. In 1951 she was fitted with a 44hp engine.

In the mid-1950 s DAWN was sold to a timber merchants and stripped of all her gear and engine. She became one of the lighters who carried timber from ships anchored in the River Blackwater to the Heybridge Basin.

This work continued for a decade but eventually even this commercial work had no further use for a wooden barge.

1965

Gordon Swift found her a couple of years later. "She was being used as a dumb barge when I saw her", he said. "She was a sorry sight, but then again magnificent".

With the help of two shipwrights Gordon put the mast and sails back on the DAWN and launched her and himself into the charter business.

As a flat bottomed boat, the DAWN was ideal for many trips by birdwatchers, photographic cruises, or just people who wanted to experience what it was like to be on a sailing barge.

DAWN then passed into the care of the Passmore Edwards museum in Newham. Still retaining Captain Swift as skipper, DAWN took thousands of inner London, school children on adventure weekends, giving them the chance to experience at first hand what they had only read about in school books.

"It was the best time I spent on her," said Captain Swift. "Just seeing the youngsters getting so much out of it was magnificent. We'd drop them off on Osea Island and they'd come back on board laden with all sorts of shells and sea ferns.

There is something about young people and barges which is hard to explain", he said. "We had very few problems. It was as if the DAWN kept them occupied and happy".

For the next 14 years, children flooded into Maldon, spending anything up to a week on the barge, learning about sailing and working together. During this time, the DAWN also won barge races and featured in some TV films. On Maldon's 800th anniversary, she was decked out in bunting and admired by the Queen

In 1992, she was sent to a yard on the River Medway for major rebuilding work, but the money ran out.

She lay in dry dock for 6 years where she began to deteriorate. Her timbers cracked and the rainwater got in.

She was vandalised and much of her equipment disappeared.

1999

Unable to leave his beloved barge to rot, Captain Swift appealed to friends and acquaintances for help. The group of engineers, maritimers and friends formed The Dawn Sailing Barge Trust.

A berth was given to the DAWN by Maldon District Council and the Trust raised enough money to stop her from rotting. She had deteriorated so much, she was unable to sail back on her own and had to be brought home inside another ship.

A Dutch coaster called the JOHNO was towed to Hoo and sunk in a creek. DAWN was floated out at high tide and towed over the sunken coaster. As the tide fell, DAWN settled into the previously prepared blocks in the JOHNO's hold. Then the holes that had been cut in the side of the JOHNO were welded up and the coaster floated on the tide.

DAWN was then towed to Maldon where she sat inside the JOHNO close to the Maldon yard where she was built in 1897.

PRESENT

The DAWN is now being rebuilt at Heybridge Basin by a team of shipwrights funded by local donations and charities and by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Work is progressing fast and it is hoped to have the hull rebuilt by 2006 and for her to be sailing again in 2007.

To see work in progress come along during one of our open days. To experience the restoration work first hand join our volunteers for working days; it is going to be a rush at the end of the job to get everything painted and ship-shape so there will be plenty to do – see the Volunteers page for details.

The Dawn especially needs the financial help and support of a wide membership. To join us please find the Membership Form on the Home Page.

DAWN has already lasted for 100 years. We hope that our restored DAWN may last for double that now that she will not be working under such rigorous conditions. The money is well spent and the DAWN will go on quietly working the estuaries and swatchways of the East Coast for many generations to come.