The Westmoreland Trust Community Interest Company (CIC) is seeking to restore, and subsequently operate as a Heritage asset, the Sailing Barge Westmoreland.

Whilst the volunteer members of the Trust are working hard to complete and submit the Heritage Lottery bid (which – if successful - would fund both the restoration and establishment of operations) there are on-going costs which we must cover to allow them the time to do so.

Sailing Barge Westmoreland is the last surviving Kent brick barge. Built in Conyer in 1900, she worked from Lower Halstow for 60 years, taking bricks from the brickfields there up the Thames to London.

Both the Lower Halstow brickfields, and the Westmoreland are a vital part of the local heritage, and we hope to tell the story of this lost industry through the barge once she is fully restored.

The volunteer members of the Trust hope to submit the bit in the first half of 2016. If successful, the Westmoreland will be restored, and operate from the Lower Halstow dock once again.

Whilst not glamorous, there are costs in standing still and operating a company such as the Westmoreland Trust, such as liability insurance for the Westmoreland on her buoy in the creek, and the preparation and submission of accounts.

The money raised will cover such bills which will become due through 2016.