Berthed at the picturesque town of Maldon in Essex with its wonderful collection of Thames Sailing Barges and other local attractions, Brent has been a much loved local landmark for over 50 years.
www.visitmaldondistrict.co.uk/
In 2021 Brent Celebrated 50 Years in Maldon! See our youtube film here:
One of the last of her kind...........
Built for the Admiralty in 1945, Brent was launched too late for the War effort and was sold to the Port of London Authority instead. Used to help maintain the Thames as a navigable waterway and to tow lighters and barges full of cargo between ships and warehouses in London Docks, she was on retirement in 1970, the last PLA steam vessel left in service.
Brent towing barges for the Port of London Authority in King George V Dock c 1958. Laurence Goldman - Historic England Copyright.
 Barges on the Thames by Christopher Nevinson
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What makes the Brent special? Brent is the last surviving steam vessel of the Port of London Authority's fleet and one of only three steam vessels left of many which were once in use on the River Thames and in the London Docks' system. She is one of only three steam 'TID' class tugs left in Britain, of 182 built for the Admiralty as part of the War effort mostly by women, using pioneering all welded flate plate construction. Brent is a classic small 'Lighterage' steam tug, a rare survivor of many hundreds which once worked around British and overseas dockyards, ports, coasts and rivers. She is now one of only four of this class left in the U.K. |
The Hall's first steaming of Brent on voyage to Maldon in 1971.
A lucky escape!
Saved from scrap in 1970, Brent was rescued and cared for by the Hall family of Maldon, Essex who used her as a holiday 'tug yacht' for nearly 40 years until the need for major repairs caused her to be laid up. She was donated by the family to us the Steam Tug Brent Trust a registered charity in 2011.
What next?
Brent is an Nationally important historic vessel which we hope to save and share with present and future generations. Opened regulary to visitors spring and summer on static display, we all want to see her sailing again one day under steam. To do this she needs grant funding and donations to fund specialist repairs to her funnel, hull plating and boiler.
Saved from scrap in 1970, Brent was rescued and cared for by the Hall family of Maldon, Essex who used her as a holiday 'tug yacht' for nearly 40 years until the need for major repairs caused her to be laid up. She was donated by the family to us the Steam Tug Brent Trust a registered charity in 2011.
What next?
Brent is an Nationally important historic vessel which we hope to save and share with present and future generations. Opened regulary to visitors spring and summer on static display, we all want to see her sailing again one day under steam. To do this she needs grant funding and donations to fund specialist repairs to her funnel, hull plating and boiler.
Brent open weekend February 2015.
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We hope to....... Build up our volunteer crew and supporters to ensure Brents preservation based in Maldon. Help provide training to apprentice heritage shipwrights, steam engineers and boiler makers whilst being restored and operated. Celebrate Docklands traditions of towage and lighterage on the Thames and allow public access on board to learn more about steam and maritime history. Work with partners to provide heritage boat handling, steam and maritime experience for young people, students and specialist groups, along the Thames, East and South East coasts from our home berth at Maldon. |
Proposals for establishing historic Maldon Waterfront as a Heritage Harbour are currently being drawn up by the local council with input from key stakeholders. As part of this we want to apply for funding to restore Brent back to steaming condition, provide interpretation and visitor displays and contruct a new public jetty down stream with berths which can take Brent along with one or two other visiting heritage vessels.
Can you help us raise funds and get Brent working
under steam again one day?
See our film to explore some more!
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Thank You For Your Support!
Thank You For Your Support!
Registered Charity No.1139414 Registered Company No.7404307
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