Houseboat Database
Boat Names and Other Details
We have started this database in order to identify as many of the houseboats that have moored in or off Benfleet Creek, including current ones. If you can add to the information, please get in touch by email or by leaving your contact details with the staff of Benfleet Library.
Name | Parentage | Owner / Occupier | Period | Location | Other Information | Photo |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Altair | 2010 | Benfleet Creek | PLA list | |||
Amiens | RASC launch | M Johnson | 1998 – 2005 | Dauntless | Previously Fairtime | |
Amy | c 1956 | |||||
beetroot | 2010 | Benfleet Creek | PLA list | |||
Bendigo | Converted MTB | Tom Scott | c 1956 | Bridge until 1977 | ||
Beryl | Schooner | 1970s | Benfleet Creek, east of bridge | previously Cyyprea, Mandolin, Carte Blanch and Cilex | ||
Bettaglen | c 1957 | |||||
Bill Busty | Landing Craft | William Hilton | c 1956 | |||
Blake | c1956 | |||||
Blue Peter | Converted barge | Bennett | 1949 to1953 | Nr Colvin Bridge | Damaged in 1953 flood. c 70 ft long. | Painting by Muriel Swanson |
Buchra | Violet Wright aka Violet Clark | 1956 | Scene of tragic fire | |||
Budhari | 2010 | The Creek | PLA list | |||
Chez Nous | Chris & Mabel Cook | c 1929 | On electoral roll | |||
Commando | c 1957 | |||||
crystal spring | 1940s | |||||
Daisy (1) same as ? | John & Amy Collitt | c 1929 | On electoral roll | |||
Daisy (2) same as ? | Louise Curry | c 1929 | On electoral roll | |||
Daisy (3) same as ? | Ambrose Quilty | c1937 | On electoral roll | |||
Daylight Rising | RAF Pinnace | 1990 – 1999 | Dauntless | Previously Sunwood | ||
Delta | c 1957 | |||||
Dolphin | Samuel and Florence Pattison | c1937 | On electoral roll | |||
Dolsis | c 1937 | |||||
Eileen | Jane Bickerton | c1937 | On electoral roll | |||
Eileen | Charles and Mary Whymark | c1937 | On electoral roll | |||
Eliza | Ernest & Love Butler | c 1929 | On electoral roll | |||
Elsie | Bowles | c 1924 | Sold to the army in 1943 | |||
Emma Jane | c 1956 | |||||
Evergreen | c1948 | |||||
Fahy | Florence, John & Violet Smith | c 1929-37 | On electoral roll | |||
Ferry Boat | William Rose | c1937 | On electoral roll | |||
Florence same as ? | William Ward | On electoral roll | ||||
Florence 2 same as ? | c 1946 | Rented out at 30/- p.w. | ||||
freelance | converted motor anti-submarine boat | M Johnson | 1998- 2008 | Dauntless | ||
Frogmore | Frank and Mildred Dowley | c 1958 | ||||
Full Sail | Emma Jennings | c1937 | On electoral roll | |||
Gay Venture | Doug Lewis | Doug died when it caught fire | ||||
Geojean | c 1956 | |||||
George Haig | RAF Pinnace | M Johnson | 1998 – 2008 | Dauntless | ||
Grace Darling | 1938/9 | |||||
Greenleaf | 1934 | The Creek Benfleet | holiday accommodation advert in Essex Newsman ninth June | |||
Harold | Sidney and Rose Ledger | c1937 | On electoral roll | |||
Haven | c 1956 | |||||
Heart of Oak | 77 foot converted barge | Bob’s parents | built 1879 | West Creek Canvey | sailing barge compendium | broken up at Benfleet |
Henry (Rochester) | converted barge | built 1865 | sailing barge compendium | |||
Herald | c 1957 | |||||
Hi-de-hi | c 1956 | |||||
Hill View | c 1956 | |||||
Idono | c 1958 | |||||
Invader | c 1957 | |||||
Invicta | 77 foot converted barge | built 1877 broken up 1958 | sailing barge compendium | |||
Iris | Percy & Winifred Knowles | c 1929 | On electoral roll | |||
Ivy | Mary Head | c 1929 | On electoral roll | |||
Jenny Lee | c 1957 | |||||
Jewel | George & Eva Still | c 1956 | ||||
Jumbo | William, Alice and Dorothy Crudgington | c1937 | On electoral roll | |||
Katherine | Musson | c 1941 | Sewerage works manager’s log 27/5 | |||
Lark | Cook | West Creek | In Ken deacon’s notes | See page Mabel Mary Medhurst Cook | ||
Lassie Jane | Frederick and Ethel Brown | c1937 | On electoral roll | |||
Le Hope | Reg Hutchings | c 1945 – c 1951 | West side of Creek | |||
Let’s Pretend | c 1957 | |||||
Lily | Louisa, Ebenezer and Lilian Wiskin | c1937 | on electoral roll | |||
Louisa | Old lifeboat | 1930s | Owner ran radio shop at Tarpots | |||
Lowestoft | c 1956 | |||||
Lydia | c 1956 | |||||
Manane | c 1956 | |||||
Margaret | c 1957 | |||||
Margot | c 1957 | |||||
Mary Jan (Rocheter)) | converted barge | built 1877 | sailing barge compendium | |||
Maureen | Arthur King | c 1953 | Church Creek | Dulecia King born on board, May 1953 | ||
May Paniche | c 1957 | |||||
Mendip | c 1958 | |||||
Millie | Converted barge | Arthur and Lucy Richardson/ Bennett | c1937/c 1956 | Nr Colvin bridge | c 70 feet long | Yes |
MTB 492 | MTB | Winifred Bowling | 1956 | |||
Nancy | Dorothy Martin | c1937 | On electoral roll | |||
Neptune | Falkus | 1920s/1930s | Yes | |||
Nisene | c 1956 | |||||
Nook | c 1957 | |||||
Patsy Ann | c 1956 | |||||
Paula P. | c 1958 | |||||
Peggoty | 2012 | for sale | ||||
Persecuted | Ted Heaney | Ferry Road | See article on Ted Heaney | |||
Phyllis | Charles A Hasker | c 1933 | Also Sarah and Charles W Hasker | |||
Rembrandt | Originally HMAS Martello, LC1S2525 a troop carrier. | K & M Swanson | c 1950 | |||
Rendezvous | c 1937 | |||||
SanRita | Pontoon conversion | Edward Arthur Bull | c 1950/60s | |||
Sans Souci | Ex landing craft | Archer | 1940s/1950s | West creek | Sold to Ted Heaney | Yes |
Severn | Converted Thames or similar barge | Bowles later owned by Lilly Hubbard | c 1942 | Between station and bridge | Converted by William and his father | Yes |
Smugglers | Ex landing craft | Turner | West creek | Yes | ||
St Christopher | c 1946 | Sold by G Crabtree for £3 | ||||
St Kilda | Alfred and Florence Cloke | c1937 | On electoral roll | |||
Stella Maris | Mr A Clarke | 1945 to 1956 | Rented to Mr A Ashdown at 10/- p.w. | |||
Sunrise | converted barge | built 1889 | West Creek | sailing barge compendium | ||
Tea boat | c 1956 | |||||
Thanet | William Alfred Brown | 1929 | ||||
Titanic, | Converted MTB | 1990 – 1995 | Dauntless | previously Pegasus | ||
Veronica | Bert & Queenie Green, children Robin, Martin, Veronica, Jackie, Geraldine. | 1946 – 1952 | Church creek | |||
Wee Peg | c 1957 | |||||
Whylaway | c 1958 | |||||
Windmill | c 1953 | Rented by Bennetts after 1953 flood | ||||
Windmill-same as above ? | Grace Richardson | 1956 | Fire fortnight after Buchra fire | |||
Winmoor | c 1957 | |||||
Zen | c 1957 | |||||
Zulu | RAF launch | 1994 | Dauntless | previously Joradean | ||
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With reference to the ‘Lassie Jane’. Ethel Brown was a great aunt on my mother’s side. Ethel was the youngest of ten children and born in 1900. Her marriage to Frederick caused a family rift. Frederick was a master mariner and I would love to know more about him and their boat ‘Lassie Jane’
Good Morning Yvonne,
Thank you for your interesting addition to our Site.
If you could find the photo of your Dad and Grandad on the boat, we would be happy to add it to the article.
Kind Regards,
Pamela J. Bird-Gaines
(Editor)
My grandfather , grandmother and father, the Knowles family, lived on the houseboat the ‘Iris’. I believe it sank in the 1950s and my grandfather went to live with my mum and dad in Cirencester , where he passed away . When our family moved back to Essex, my dad would often take us there and reminisce about his childhood on the house boat. My dad gave my sister the name Iris. I think I have a photo of dad and grandad on the boat
Hello, is it possible to add some details to the houseboat database. I am the granddaughter of the boat owners of The Rembrandt. it was originally HMAS Martello, LC1S2525 a troop carrier, which was converted after the war by K & M Swanson. It broke it’s moorings in a hightide and my grandmother, Muriel and her infant daughter had to be rescued. Regards, Pat Anastasi.
Good Afternoon,
I am searching to find out about my great Grandfather William Crudgington who lived with Alice on Jumbo at the Creek. Does anyone know anything about him? He was a carpenter and eventually moved to The Mount at Pitsea. My father Ted / Edward Crudgington was his grandson who lives at Bowers Gifford. I have been researching Jumbo but alas not much to go on but have found so much interesting news of Benfleet and the lovely boats. You never know but someone may know a little more. Thanks Susan
To the editor, a big thanks I will pass on the information you supplied this will bring back some happy memories. My mum and aunt would have met this family.
Thanks again.
Editor: In case you did not find it there is another page to view. Glad you enjoy our website.
/content/browse-articles/people-2/benfleet-families/theres-a-pub-at-the-bottom-of-his-garden
Hi, it’s Martin again. I have a bit more information. My great grandfather‘s nickname was Bill, his full name was Henry James Woollcott. My aunt remembers an art and crafts shop that made earrings, she has them to this day. The woman in the shop she thinks was called Bobby or Roberta, there were headscarves with patterns painted on them. If there is any information or memories about, I would love to here them.
Editor: The shop you refer to was possibly run by the Barnes family. Vic Barnes and his wife Yvonne sold all manner of things, they had two children Jackie and Roberta, always known as Bobbie. This link will take you to a page about their shop on our website.
Does anyone remember the ‘ESME’? She was sunk in the big flood in 1950’s, owned by William Woollcott my great grandfather.
We lived on the Hinimoa from about ’65 till 1970, first in Dauntless boat yard, then on the railway side right where the Gladys is now moored. She was a converted Admiralty steam pinnace, 52 ft. Took her to the South of France, eventually, to do charter work.
I was the one born on houseboat ‘Maureen’, owned by my Dad Arthur King, in May 1953.
Dulecia King
Hi, I am doing my family history and found this, I know my mother, father and sister were living on a houseboat when the flood happened , best regards Paul
George W S Purvis This record is officially closed
Gender: Male
Birth: Mar 5 1891
Residence: Sep 29 1939, Houseboat, Dungiven, Benfleet, Essex, England
Age: 48
Marital status: Married
Occupation: Telegraph Mechanician
Wife: May L Lydia Purvis
Census
District: Benfleet Urban District
County: Essex
Country: England
Date: Sep 29 1939
Schedule: 354
TNA Reference: RG101/1473A/027/6
Piece: 1473A
Item #: 027
Line: 6
Household
Records are closed for those individuals who were born less than 100 years ago unless matched to a registered death record.
Relation to head
Head
Name: George W S Purvis
Birth: Mar 5 1891
Marital status: married
Occupation:Telegraph Mechanician
Relation to head: Wife (implied)
Name: May L Lydia Purvis
Birth: May 2 1893
Marital status: Married
Occupation: Unpaid Domestic Duties
Relation to head: Possible relative (implied)
Name: George HJ Purvis
Birth: Mar 6 1920
Marital status: Single
Occupation: Assistant Steward
Relation to head: Possible relative (implied)
Name: Emily Purvis
Birth: Nov 15 1884
Marital status: Widowed
Occupation: Housewife
I owned the George Haig. I bought it from Mike Johnson in April 2006 and lived on it for 2 years until it was sadly destroyed by Leigh Marina after she broke her back on a poor mooring. The most peculiar thing about this list is that my Grandad William Alfred Brown is also listed here as he lived and died on the Thanet in 1929. At the time I bought the George Haig I had no idea that my Grandparents and my Dad had lived on a boat, let alone that it was also at Benfleet but I have my Grandfather’s death certificate and it is a fact! How weird!
I believe the Tom Scott of the Bendigo (see craft list) was the chap who skippered my parents’ barge the May Flower when they sailed her from Maldon to Leigh after her purchase in 1950. My parents later sailed the barge up to Benfleet berthing below the old bridge, about where the barrier now sits, staying for a few months in 1954. Details and interesting pictures in my book, The May Flower A Barging Childhood.
Tom was a barge skipper, but my mother is sure that he had essentially retired by then. Where he lived she hasn’t been able to tell me – he was just a ‘chap’ my father knew from when his family’s boats were moored at Benfleet for winter lay-up.
Interesting!
It should be remembered that there were many other types of vessel on the waterways locally, other than spritsail barges. A register of these other vessels is unlikely to exist, other than vessels on the PLA craft register – this includes many spritsail barges. River Lee type dumb barges will also have been available for use as homes when their trading/cargo carrying time was over…
Houseboat ‘Severn’ which I stayed on most Friday nights when I was aged about 7, so 1954 ish. Owned then by my great Aunt Lily Hubbard and lived in by my Aunt Maureen and Uncle John Stockwell, after he came out of the Royal Navy. Was almost without doubt a retired Thames Sailing Barge. It was complete with the fire with the Mica front panelled door, low ceilings and very heavy beams in common with most of these barges. The very heavily timbered decks and hull etc. On the list here it states, built by William and his father, but I feel may be it was converted by them or am I misinterpreting the information, can anyone help?
On reflection, it could be Severn was a sailing barge or shallow draft sailing vessel from another source than the Thames of course.
Owners of the ‘FROGMORE’ were Frank and Mildred Dowley – their eldest daughter was in my class at Benfleet Infants and Juniors and held her birthday parties on board!
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