The CAMBRIA Trust Project Timeline
From Launch to Retirement
- 1906 Cambria and Hibernia launched at Everard’s shipyard at Greenhithe, Kent
- 1906 In its first year, Cambria comes second in the Thames Barge Match Coasting class section
- 1927 Cambria wins the pennant for both the Thames and Medway Sailing barge matches
- 1928 Cambria win the pennant for the Medway barge match
- 1954 Bob Roberts becomes skipper of the Cambria
- 1955 Bob Roberts and Chris Chataway make a documentary of barging life aboard Cambria for BBC
- 1966 Bob Roberts becomes the owner of Cambria and continues trading cargoes along the East Coast
- 1970 Cambria carries the last cargo in a British wind powered vessel..Bob Roberts retires and Cambria is purchased by the Maritime Trust.
- 1971 Cambria is converted to a museum ship in St Katherine’s Dock, London, to join the Maritime Trust historic ship collection.
- 1987 Historic Ship collection disbanded and agreement reached between the Maritime Trust and Dolphin Sailing Barge Museum Trust to berth Cambria at Dolphin Yard, Sittingbourne.
- 1988 Tony Ellis forms the Cambria Restoration Project.
- 1992 The National Register of Historic Vessels is established, with Cambria as a designated vessel.
The Cambria Trust
1996 Cambria is transferred to the Cambria Trust, for restoration. Chris Chataway is the patron- 2005 Unsuccessful bid for restoration funding from the Landfill tax
- 2005 The Current Patron, Rear Admiral Bruce Richardson takes over
- 2006 Cambria moved to Sheerness Dockyard. New bid for Heritage Lottery Funding developed.
- 2007 Heritage Lottery funding bid successful. Cambria Trust awarded £990,000. Cambria moved to Faversham and restoration begins
Cambria Trust Restoration Planner
- 1st March 2007 Heritage Lottery Funding announced.
- 1st June 2007 Cambria Trust incorporated as a Company limited by guarantee.
- 1st September 2007 Cambria moved to Faversham to commence restoration work
- Consignment of sustainable Oak delivered to Faversham from Somerset
- December 2007 Cambria website launched
- December 2007 Mr Tim Goldsack begins the restoration work
- Easter 2008 Projected to open the visitor reception centre at Standard Quay, Faversham
- September 2008 Projected to secure significant sponsorship deal(s)
- 2009-2010 Restoration continues
- 2011 Sea trials projected to be completed; commercial educational and environmental work to commence.
- 2012 Cambria aims to represent Kent at the London Olympics
