We could do with one now.

The old Colne Dredger doing a fine job at the Hythe, Colchester,  Now scrapped and the river is silting up.
Left click on all images to see them in super size.

Sailing barges at the Hythe.

Sailing barge LEOFLEDA waiting at the Hythe for the hufflers who will pole the barge up to Marriages Mill at East Bay.

For dave Sampson a picture of "Hufflers" who are poking the barge Mayland up to East Mill at Colchester.1949.
You can see her sails ,mast and rigging are dropped to get under Hythe and East Bay bridges and the only power were the long poles.

Look at those lovely barges.

This is when the Hythe was a flourishing port. i think they were either Parry's oil mills, or R.W. Pauls