Thames sailing barge museum lost forever in fire

A fire which completely gutted the Dolphin Sailing Barge Museum has bought heartache to those who have worked for decades to preserve Swale’s maritime heritage.

Investigators believe the fire was started deliberately.

The blaze was so intense it reduced wooden models and reconstructions to ash and even melted the metal exhibits.

“I feel sick to the stomach,” said Peter Morgan, a former chairman of the museum which housed a unique collection of Thames sailing barges - the source of much of Sittingbourne and Faversham’s prosperity in the 19th and early 20th century.

The museum closed its doors for the season at 5pm on Sunday – but just over three hours later the fire which destroyed the work of many years broke out.

A Kent Fire and Rescue spokeswoman told Yourswale: “When we arrived the building was 100 per cent alight and the floors had collapsed. We did what we could – but there was no chance of saving anything.”

Forensic experts remained at the scene following the fire to look for clues as to how it started.
“We believe the cause of the fire to be suspicious,” added the Fire Brigade spokeswoman.

Staff at the museum said a series of recent break-ins had resulted in security cameras being installed.

John Hull, Yard Officer at the premises in Crown Quay Way on the estuary, said: “We have seen a number of attempts to gain entry in recent months but this is the ultimate disaster for us.

“I have worked at the museum since 1971 and the collection we have amassed is a unique record of the history and heritage of the whole of Swale and its barges.

“We just locked the doors on Sunday and I thought now the summer was over the real work in restoring and preserving our collection will begin and continue over the coming months.

“But there is nothing to restore or preserve any more – I can’t begin to think what we are going to do next.

“All I know it that we have lost an extremely valuable part of our local heritage.

As for the financial cost I can’t even think about that – in any case you cannot put a price on history.”

The fire was initially attended by engines from Sittingboure and Teynham but crews rapidly called for reinforcements after the alarm was raised at 8.19pm.

Support came from fire fighters based in Faversham and a command vehicle was also dispatched.

At the height of the blaze crews hauled inflammable propane gas cylinders from the inferno and sprayed them with water to cool them and prevent explosions.

The museum’s staff were notified by police later that night.

Mr Hull said: “I got a knock on my door just after I’d gone to bed and it was a great shock, although the police officers were very sympathetic. I wasn’t even able to go down to see the damage for a while as it is a crime scene and had been sealed off.

“Now we have to get together to decide what to do – and I just have no idea. It’s heartbreaking.”

Local MP Derek Wyatt said: “It is a great great loss to the history of what made Sittingbourne - the barges brought the paper down from London docks to Milton at one stage we had a dozen mills; this is a terrible terrible thing that has happened.”

Kentnews.co.uk