Some of the classic barges on our shipyard are at the end of a long restoration process. The only reason for taking them out of the water periodically is to make sure that the part that is normally under water remains as good as it is, like our friends Aad and Carla's barge Anthonetta.
Others are at the beginning of all that work of repair and restoration, as is our guest of this week.The hull under water is still very good, given the age of over 80 years.
The side of the aft cabin, however, is in a sorry state. To repair this is not just rough steel work, as you will see after following me inside.
All this stunning woodwork comes totally unexpected and is really overwhelming.
Right behind this panelling is the rusted-through steel outside. Great care nust be taken not to damage this beautiful interior during repair work. The wooden bits probably need to be taken apart.
To complete our grand tour through the tiny interior, here is the door to the bedroom...
...containing two double bunks, made to the size of people who lived eighty years ago - and were much smaller on average than we are nowadays!
Photos: Koos Fernhout
23 comments:
S'NOT FAIR!!!!!! I want it for meeeeeee! :-)) Veeeee! xx
Gorgeous! Stunning interior.
Wow, Koos, what stunning woodwork indeed. Is it typical for barges to have such elegant interiors, or is there no such thing as typical?
-AM
Hi Koos,
thanks for your flattering comment on our blog, and what beautiful pictures of the "roef" of Philips ship.
It's not easy to make pictures of the inside of a small roef.
compliments.
Carla
Dang she's pretty. Wow.
the wood is beautiful is it oak?...i think you should give it to val...
Koos, I just looked at this boat for the nth time today. I just showed my family. Emile, my son, just spent the whole day making toy boats, and he enjoyed looking at your pictures.
I love the doorknobs and handles.
PS The photos you take are beautiful. Thank you.
I am almost sure it's not oak.
Vally P
The owner says: well let her make an offer.
So glad you like it Gina. I am very impressed by all the beautiful things you make, and the versatility of it all. Thanks for sharing!
Anne-Marie
This type of barge was called luxe motor, because they were the first to be built as motor barges and because the skipper and his family enjoyed so much luxury, like mahogany interiors, or pine, finished like mahogany (not necessarily spacious though!). So yes, for this type the luxury was typical.
Ah Carla, flattering? The plain truth, I urge my fellow bloggers to see for themselves: Anthonetta Love your most recent post too, Carla, impressive!
Hi Gypsy, maybe real mahogany (see above). The living room is about 2.5 x 3.5m / 8 x 10 ft.
There is room for 2 adults and a couple of children in the beds, but there is no kitchen worth mentioning and no toilet at all (was a bucket enough?)
Elizabeth, me inspiring a whole family in New Jersey? Almost too much honour... Emile may well be 'my' youngest reader
Hi Koos,
Thank you for your kind words on my blog! I always enjoy reading your comments.
The woodwork is breathtaking - you would never know from looking at the outside the treaures that hide within. That will be a touchy job, indeed, and hopefully the dismantling will be done by a woodworking expert. To have all that wood carved so beautifully would cost a fortune nowadays. They don't make 'em like they used to.
Mary Beth
Someone gave me this eye-opener recently: then materials were expensive but labour was cheap, now it is the other way round.
Love for all
Koos
Very interesting photos. Here in Nottingham, England, there is a canal which still houses a fair collection of barges. The canal is obviously a left over from the days when Nottingham had a thriving Lace industry (as well as other things). Now of course the barges are all for leisure, but the Museum here is good for a rainy day out.
Very nice item Koos.
Still waiting for the 12-string adventure though....
*pout*
koos im going to sound really stupid here but i have to ask..where does mahogany come from..i never heard of a mahogany tree..
Hi Ian
Interesting to learn about the textile background of Nottingham, largely thanks to the Canal Age presume.
In return you might like to know that Enschede lies in the heart of our textile region, thanks to the presence of a good waterway and abundant freshwater, and cheap labour, in the region.
That industry is now as much a memory as anywhere else in our modern world...
Barry,
I feel an article about the 12-string coming up. Other subjects compete heavily with it though...
Dear Koos
I am astounded at the amazing woodwork & the lovely interior of the barge.
Who'd have thought a "barge" could look like that!
Is that a fireplace???
I have even more respect for you lucky barge people - is that what you call yourselves?
I can hardly take my eyes off the woodworking!
Thanks for the fantastic photos and "in"sight...
Missed you in the chat!
Love
Dale
Great comment, Dale! And yes, it is a fireplace, where you can put a coal- or woodstove.
What I like so much about this interior is the unexpected, the exterior being so shabby.
Was sorry to miss the chat. Rachel knows we barge people have band practice on Tuesday evenings, so Rachel keeps the exceptions to the Wednesday-rule to a minimum, and doesn't nag about my absence: a fair deal I'd say...
But I missed it too!
BTW Koos
I like the Pete thing going on with your new ID photo!
I'm impressed with your impression...
:)
Dale
Aw, Thanx Dale (blush). Oh btw, forgot to mention oil stove in comment above.
kiss
Koos
Wow the woodwork is BEAUTIFUL!
I would love to live on a barge.
I posted more pics but because of the rain I don't have too many.
Boo!
My next post will be amazing (I think!). It's the #1 tourist spot in Taiwan. I'll keep you in suspense.
I promise to post it today or tomorrow.
Take care oh and thanks for putting up the rest of Tommy for us.
I better go to the gym now.
Toodles,
Sue
Hi Koos,
First of all I like the newe lay out of your blog. Much beter!!!
I also do like the Anthonetta. Seen their blog before. Very nice ship. There is still a lot to wish for.....
Erik-Jan.
Great comment, Sue. You'll be sure to see me visit (and hover overhead on Google Earth).
Post a Comment