Mary

Mary is, like Gunter, a barge wooden used by the Sussex Portland Cement Company. She resides on mooring number 5.

Mary was originally a scuttled hull just south of the Toll Bridge on the west bank. The Owner of Gunter, Toby Hughes, in 1973 along with Myself(Jeff) and a few others Cleared out the sediment in the hull and filled the bungs. We found that it did float again so on the Night before the highest tide we turned the hull around, then that night floated it down to to where it is moored now. We had a very adventurous time as the Police were very concerned as to what we were doing at 2am that Tuesday Night!. (I cannot remember the date). Over the next month I re corked the seams, we had the rudder brackets rebuilt and slowly converted it into a single room plus kitchen and toilet, House Boat. We learnt its Name from an old Man who used to use it originally for moving the Chalk etc from the Cement works.He said it was Called Mary, so we kept its name. This is a potted History but I hope Helpful.

Here is a picture of her (taken on the 10th of June 2008):