Barges known as Stackies “Stover Hay” for food was made into 56lb bales and bedding straw into 36lb bales. Ten wagon loads of hay into hold and twenty wagon loads of straw on deck. Straw stacked 10′ to 12′ high off deck and held in with stack irons. Normally loaded between 0630 and 1430 to catch HW.
Return cargo of stable and street sweepings known as “London Violets” Six or seven laborours with five or six horses/tumbrils with horsemen to unload to fields for spreading.
Barges had bungs in the bottom so that water could be let in for cleaning down inside of hull. Ammonia from muck rotted the hulls.
Stack Trade was mainly from Ewarton by Winches ended in 1938 from Shotley.
Picture of Primrose p39
(Ref B1)
Also pic of Primrose from facebook
