Severn Trow Spry

Restoration of the Severn Trow 'Spry', built by William Hurd at Chepstow and launched in 1894. Spry is a unique example of an inland sailing barge and has great significance for the development of the River Severn for transport. It is flat-bottomed, square sterned, with an open hold, designed to carry as much cargo as possible on a shallow draft. Spry was rescued from underwater as Digh's Basin, Worcester and initial restoration involevd drying out the hulltimbers before any other work could be done.