To put flesh on those bones, you can read these two books by James Lawrence, who was better known in the classic-boat world as the maker of the best traditional sails that money could buy but who spent 15 years working on cargo-carrying barges before switching to charter work and, ultimately, opening a sail loft for all traditional craft. Thames barges hold an iconic place in British maritime history. For over 100 years, these mighty beasts of burden charged up and down the River Thames and the surrounding coasts, carrying vast amounts of cargo between London and outlying areas. Their flat bottoms and shallow drafts—just 3′ for an 80′- to 90′-long hull—meant they could access remote rivers and tributaries and simply sit on the mud when the tide went out. Most were built of wood until steel took over in the later years.