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Barge built in Frindsbury now on River Thames could be home to movie mogul

06:00, 05 June 2021

An industrial barge which started life at a yard in Kent could be the new home for a Hollywood movie mogul.

The boat built in Frindsbury 60 years ago, which is now on the River Thames in the shadow of Tower Bridge, is up for sale for £875,000.

Medway built barge Rock is up for sale for £875,000. Picture: Unique Property Company
Medway built barge Rock is up for sale for £875,000. Picture: Unique Property Company

The floating home, which is called Rock and is permanently moored at trendy Wapping in east London, is among the few fully operational and surviving Medway Coasters in the UK.

And, according to estate agents, it has attracted a lot of interest since coming on the market including a potential buyer, "a big name" based in Los Angeles who is involved in the film industry.

The former wheat cargo vessel was built by the London and Rochester Company at its Medway Quarry Yard in 1961.

It was taken out of service on the east coast route in 1990 and converted for charter and residential use.

Although she has undergone some external changes, she still retains a rare and well-preserved KelvinK4 engine.

One of the bedrooms. Picture: Unique Property Company
One of the bedrooms. Picture: Unique Property Company
There's a bath to relax in. Picture: Unique Property Company
There's a bath to relax in. Picture: Unique Property Company
A great view for the captain. Picture: Unique Property Company
A great view for the captain. Picture: Unique Property Company
There's plenty of seating inside. Picture: Unique Property Company
There's plenty of seating inside. Picture: Unique Property Company
Rock is moored on the River Thames in London. Picture: Unique Property Company
Rock is moored on the River Thames in London. Picture: Unique Property Company

She was bought by artist Anne Lydiat Wainwright and her late husband Chris in 2002 who has described Rock as a "piece of British maritime history" with "iconic views of London from the River Thames".

On top of the £875,00 price tag comes a £511 a month mooring fee.

It's on the market with the Unique Property Company, which specialises in selling unusual homes.

The boat has seven berths, four cabins, including one with an en-suite, a wheelhouse, upper studio office with wood burner, large saloon with open gallery, spacious dining area and fully-fitted kitchen galley.

Sitting opposite Chatham Dockyard, Frindsbury was an important centre of shipbuilding before 1820. In its latter years, the yards built more than 100 Thames barges until the industry ended in 2006.

There's room up top to get a different view. Picture: Unique Property Company
There's room up top to get a different view. Picture: Unique Property Company
Medway built barge Rock, located on the River Thames in London, is up for sale for £875,000. Picture: Unique Property Company
Medway built barge Rock, located on the River Thames in London, is up for sale for £875,000. Picture: Unique Property Company
There's lots of storage space. Picture: Unique Property Company
There's lots of storage space. Picture: Unique Property Company
Another of the bedrooms on board. Picture: Unique Property Company
Another of the bedrooms on board. Picture: Unique Property Company
The kitchen has everything you need to cook up for friends. Picture: Unique Property Company
The kitchen has everything you need to cook up for friends. Picture: Unique Property Company
Light streams into the living area. Picture: Unique Property Company
Light streams into the living area. Picture: Unique Property Company
There's book shelves in the dining area to store some of your favourite reads. Picture: Unique Property Company
There's book shelves in the dining area to store some of your favourite reads. Picture: Unique Property Company

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