Nicola Lisle visits the 80-year-old steam tug Brent, currently moored on the River Blackwater in Maldon, Essex, and finds out about ambitious restoration plans…
MALDON’S quay, The Hythe, was once a busy industrial port, home to thriving boatyards and a fleet of barges transporting goods to Chelmsford and London. Today the remaining barges are an iconic sight along the waterfront, and instead of carrying cargoes they are now used for boat trips and chartered cruises.
Since the 1970s, this historic quayside has also been home to the steam tug Brent, the only survivor of the Port of London Authority’s postwar fleet of steam vessels and now a popular attraction along the waterfront.
Originally commissioned by the Admiralty for war service, Brent was completed in 1945 by Sunderland boatbuilder William Pickersgill & Sons, but just too late for the conflict. Instead, it was taken on by the Port of London Authority (PLA) in the dredging department at Gravesend in Kent before moving to the Royal Docks in the early 1960s and spending nearly a decade towing cargo-laden lighters from ships to the wharves.
With the growth of container shipping during the 1960s, and the subsequent decline of London’s docks, much of the PLA fleet was consigned to the scrapyard – all except Brent, which was rescued in 1971 by Ron and Janet Hall and, after extensive renovation, was the family boat for more than 20 years.
During this time, the Halls took Brent to boat rallies and steam boat festivals around the UK and cruised twice to the Netherlands where, in 1984, they took part in the Medemblik Steam Festival. Brent also appeared in the Thames Clipper Regatta in 1975 and Queen Elizabeth’s Silver Jubilee celebrations in 1977, as well as winning a Best Kept Craft award from the London Borough of Greenwich in 1973.
By the 1990s though, Brent was showing its age, and problems with the boiler brought its steam days to an end.
In 2002 Brent was moved to its current berth at Cooks Yard, The Hythe, the former premises of barge maker W Cook & Son. Since then, volunteers have been carrying out ongoing preservation and maintenance. The Steam Trug Brent Trust was established in 2010 to ensure Brent’s preservation as an historic vessel, and Janet Hall donated the boat to the trust in 2011.
Brent is regularly open to visitors during spring and summer for open days, exhibitions and other events, all giving an insight into its history as a working tug and as a family home and holiday boat.
Now the trustees have big plans for Brent, including an extensive renovation programme to restore it to working condition, more visitor engagement with exhibitions and boat trips, more community involvement, and the creation of apprenticeships in steam and maritime skills.
The trust’s vision also includes building a jetty and pontoon, enabling Brent to navigate away from its current berth, and to add a lighter barge to be used as a hub for the trust. The latter will also reinforce the historic connection between Brent and lighter barges.
All this, of course, will cost a huge amount of money. Step forward the National Lottery Heritage Fund, which in May 2024 granted the trust £97,488 in resilient funding, providing an invaluable first step towards its goal. This funding will enable trustees to explore their plans in detail, and ensure that they are fully costed and sustainable well into the future.
Successful completion of this 18-month project – which ends in December 2025 – will hopefully be followed by further funding from the National Lottery to bring those ambitious plans to fruition.
Meanwhile, you can see Brent at any time along the waterfront and find out more about the boat, forthcoming open days and the work of the trust.
It’s also worth having a stroll around the historic quayside with its information panels, fleet of Thames sailing barges and several cafes and pubs along the waterfront. Don’t miss the 11th century St Mary’s Church, which stands high above the quay. Known as the fisherman’s church, its tower has guided many a sailor safely into port.
Visitor information
Steam Tug Brent: The Hythe, Maldon, Essex CM9 5HN
Website: www.steamtugbrent.org
Times: Available to view from the quayside at all times. Check the website for details of visitor open days and other events.
Parking: Limited parking at The Hythe; several car parks in Maldon within walking distance. Details: www.visitmaldon.co.uk/parking
Travel: Getting there: From M25, take junction 28, follow A12 to Chelmsford, then A414 to Maldon.
