Summary sheet

Date of interview: 20th May

Place of interview: Hermitage Moorings on boad Ethel Ada

Name of interviewer: Anne Gulland

Name of interviewee: Ollie Price

Time / Subject discussed
0:00 / Introductions
0.15 / How he came to own Ethel Ada
2.21 / Ollie’s boat experience prior to buying Ethel Ada. Wouldn’t have done it if he hadn’t been a bachelor
3.07 / After buying, how he began to refurbish it. How wooden boats tend to “droop” when left without cargo in
4.43 / What state the boat was in when he bought it; description of original boat layout and how he altered it
6.19 / How he knew what to do, what advice and help he had. “One thing leads to another” – deck, mast, rigging, sails
8.53 / Coming to London a couple of years later; how difficult it had been trying to work on it in Suffolk. Getting mooring space; owner liked having a Thames barge there
10.20 / Before Ollie bought her, what had happened to her – previous owner in 70s and 80s
11.44 / Finding out about the history of the boat, what it would have been used for. Ollie shows original document recording the building and ownerships of the boat. It was originally owned in 64 shares. Was built for transporting bulk cargo – was used for chemicals and explosives in 50s – wooden boats were preferred for this
16.02 / It probably stopped trading in the 1960s
16.47 / Family of the man who built it contacted him and had a family party on board.
17.40 / There were 5 boats built called Ethel Ada – confusing. Where the name came from.
18.36 / Why Ollie himself isn’t on the ownership documents – ship registers no longer kept in same format
19.22 / It’s not like a listed building, no duty to look after it – like an old car
20.11 / Thames barges as iconic boats, symbol of Thames. How they differ from Dutch barges – more angular. How the design fits the function. Spritsail rig; lee boards
24.20 / Thames barge racing; how it originated, and how it is today; Ollie’s experience of racing Ethel Ada; history of professional racing; racing crew of 7 and using a bowsprit
27.38 / Becoming part of the Thames barge owners’ community; people know the barge even if they don’t know you; have strong opinions about how you should preserve it. So there is a sense of responsibility to them, but sometimes frustration
29.49 / Ollie’s vision for the interior of the boat – priority was to keep it uncluttered so can see the original timber. Wooden barges are different from metal and don’t need to be insulated. Need for air circulation.
31.30 / There are 8 bunks. How Ollie’s family used the space. When he met his future wife, how she felt about the boat
32.56 / Ollie’s freelance lifestyle fitted in with working on the boat. Balance between doing some work himself and paying others to do some things
33.45 / Engine – came from a combine harvester. Learning skills to maintain the engine; initially intimidating, but then watch an expert and find out that it’s not difficult. Replacing the fuel pipes on the engine.
35.33 / The community at Downings Road moorings. Before buying the boat, he hadn’t considered community aspect, but liked it
36.25 / Sense of community became stronger when problems arose with tenancy at Downings Road and they were threatened with eviction and campaigned successfully against it. Description of the reasons for the dispute.
38.12 / When they won the dispute, the rent went up. Out of this came the plan to create Hermitage.
39.18 / How they funded the creation of Hermitage – people put in their own money. Managing the financial risks.
41.39 / Pier House as a focus for the community. Ideas of what they needed came from their experiences of living on other moorings. James’s important role as manager.
44.17 / Hermitage as a co-op has worked out the way they hoped. Designing the co-op structure, rules, membership agreement was in some ways the most difficult part of the process. They resolve disputes by looking at the rules. The need for a strong structure.
45.26 / The need for co-op members to take part in maintaining the moorings; and the need to share this work equally.
46.44 / How Ollie moved off the boat into a house, just before Hermitage was completed. Rules about whether members have to live at the mooring – creation of two “recreational” berths. Having flexible rules is better than no rules at all.
50.02 / Taking the boat out. Easier from Hermitage than it was from St Katherine Dock
51.04 / You always need to travel with the tide; how this can affect journeys on the Thames. Other difficulties, such as big ships around Tilbury.
52.24 / How Ollie’s children feel about the boat. Using the dinghy. Ollie’s decision to sell the boat and how he feels about the prospect of leaving the community.
56.04 / What it takes to buy a boat - much cheaper than buying a flat in central London, but hard to get a mortgage. Don’t necessarily need to know a lot about boats before you start. – get advice from each other.
57.22 / He would recommend living on a boat – the river is right at the heart of London, but detached from it. The feeling of sailing and moving.
58.30 / Changes in the river – mixed feelings about idea of using the river more for transport; the Thames is not that suitable. Compares it to the past; Pepys writing about river transport
1.01.06 / Feelings about the prospect of “saying goodbye” to Ethel Ada
1.02.04 / Ethel Ada’s “personality”. How she compares with other Thames barges.
1.04.05 / Keeping the boat warm – central heating vs wood-burning stove
1.05.22 / Whether Ollie will keep his connection with boats in the future. Difficulties of getting friends together to go sailing.
1.07.39 / End