Posted by Peter Ceresole on November 16, 2008 at 21:05:18 user PeterC.
In Reply to: Re: Barges, was Google Maps (was Tie points - posted by Jock on November 16, 2008 at 20:32:11:
Anyway to answer your questions, the Horsey lighters are made of steel, so they'll be around for a few years yet.
There used to be some lighters made of concrete; there was a number of them moored in the Thames, in the middle of the river near the Festival Hall. I was fascinated by them as a child; they were quite traditional in shape, but the concrete was light gray, with heavy black fenders. As I remember, they were used as moorings; my dad explained to me how they were constructed. That was also when he explained to me about the Mulberry harbours, which were brought to my mind by the Horsey deployment. Floating concrete; whenever we went up to town, I used to make a point of trying to have a look at them. They seemed wonderfully chunky and military, and even then I had a feeling of history about them.
They disappeared some years ago. I was sad when they were no longer there.