Houseboat "Le Hope"

c.1945 - c.1951

My Dad, Reg Hutchings, rented(?) a houseboat on the creek from some time during WWII and ’51ish. The boat bore the name “Le Hope” and was moored about half way along the west side of the creek.

I was born in 1949. The family lived in Walthamstow and we would go down for weekends. When, in 1963, we moved to Benfleet for a couple of years all that remained of “Le Hope” was the rectangular bottom of the barge surrounded by the sea of dune grass that covered what had been the creek.

The photos were taken late ’40’s I guess, maybe ’50/’51? One showing my cousin Patricia White, my Dad Reginald Hutchings and my Mum Norah. The other, my Dad and Auntie Marjory, my Mum’s youngest sister.

My cousin Patricia White, my Dad Reginald Hutchings and my Mum Norah.
Terry Hutchings
My Dad and Auntie Marjory, my Mum's youngest sister
Terry Hutchings
The Houseboat "Le Hope"
Terry Hutchings
The Houseboat "Le Hope"
Terry Hutchings
The Houseboat "Le Hope"
Terry Hutchings

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  • Reply to Stephen Potter’s August 2020 post. Thanks Stephen. I had presumed “Le Hope” had perished. I’m very interested in your comment. Any further info would be most welcome. I tried to reply some time ago but I guess it didn’t work. Here goes again.
    Terry Hutchings

    By Terry Hutchings (11/01/2021)
  • I think this boat is in Smallgains marina on the hard standing, I currently live on a boat at the marina, now called AW Marine.
    I live here with my partner Sammy and son Ares, we are considering the move to Benfleet Creek moorings.

    By Stephen potter (17/08/2020)

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