Will Everard, as she was originally known, was commissioned by F.T. Everard in 1925 or 1926 as one of four steel-hulled sister ships.
The vessels were to be the largest Thames sailing barges ever built and were coasters destined for ports up to Newcastle in the north-east and round to Poole in the southwest.
 The Barges were built to Mr F.T. Everard's exact specifications and named after four family members: Will, Ethel, Fred and Alf.
According to long term skipper, Jim Uglow MBE, "four stouter built barges never put to sea."

Will Everard was finished in 1925 and worked for the firm for over 40 years.
She was initially bound to a coal contract supplying the gasworks at Margate with coal from Keadby on the Humber but routinely fitted in other cargoes between voyages.
She was designed to be sailed by a Master, a Mate and two boys, however, her large size meant in practice a man at Third Hand proved more capable than two boys.
In the 1930s she parted cables while sitting though a storm off Eastbourne and was blown ashore and battered on the beach for hours before the storm passed.
She was found buried in the shingle, damaged but intact (her bottom survived this damage for decades before it was finally replaced in 2006).
She was towed out by horse and the rig was repaired within days.
Will Everard, as she was originally known, was commissioned by F.T. Everard in 1925 or 1926 as one of four steel-hulled sister ships. The vessels were to be the largest Thames sailing barges ever built and were coasters destined for ports up to Newcastle in the north-east and round to Poole in the southwest.  The Barges were built to Mr F.T. Everard's exact specifications and named after four family members: Will, Ethel, Fred and Alf. According to long term skipper, Jim Uglow MBE, "four stouter built barges never put to sea."
Will Everard was finished in 1925 and worked for the firm for over 40 years. She was initially bound to a coal contract supplying the gasworks at Margate with coal from Keadby on the Humber but routinely fitted in other cargoes between voyages. She was designed to be sailed by a Master, a Mate and two boys, however, her large size meant in practice a man at Third Hand proved more capable than two boys. In the 1930s she parted cables while sitting though a storm off Eastbourne and was blown ashore and battered on the beach for hours before the storm passed. She was found buried in the shingle, damaged but intact (her bottom survived this damage for decades before it was finally replaced in 2006). She was towed out by horse and the rig was repaired within days.
Will (Thames barge)