Key details
- Current boat name
- Haughty Belle
- Boat class
- 7195
- Function
- Service
- Type
Dimensions and specifications
- Length (m / ft)
- 5.25 / 17 ft 3in
- Beam (m / ft)
- 1.64 / 5ft 5in
- Masts
- 1
- Propulsion
- Oar/Sail
Design and build
- Designer
- Traditional
- Date of build
- 1930 c
- Place of build
- Margate
Current status
- Present use
- Museum/NMMC
History
This class of boat was more heavily built than the similar Thames Watermens skiffs and would have been used for ferrying, fishing, taking people out for pleasure trips at Margate and also for occasional herring fishing. HAUGHTY BELLE was reported to be the last Kentish Wherry to be used at Margate in 1982. She was presented to the NMM by V Kennard together with a set of wheels used to launch her.
The pole truck that went with HAUGHTY BELLE to Greenwich was not hers but belonged to JOKEN another wherry I had in Kingsgate (along with RUBY). The wheels were from the old Margate to Westgate brake wagon. These trucks were very ingenious. I saw a modern style version in Dunkerque in the 80s with car wheels tho' couldn't see how the physics worked so close to the ground.With the big old cartwheels of course bystanders could give a hand by turning the spokes. V Kennard 2013
GH Oct 2013