Description

Featured on George Clarke's Amazing Spaces (https://www.channel4.com/programmes/george-clarkes-amazing-spaces/on-demand/60244-008 - from about 8:35), we lovingly converted this Humber Keel working barge into our family home in 2014, and have lived happily aboard "Manoah" (Hebrew for "resting-place") ever since.

It is the spaciousness that hits you when you step inside. I'm 6'2" and never have to duck. "It's bigger than my house!" is a comment we often hear from visitors. (People assume boats are meant to be small and poky.)

75ft x 15ft.

Another key feature is the sheer abundance of natural light. The kitchen gets sunlight from 5 directions - we put a large rectangular skylight in the roof of the upstairs and you're surrounded by light from the windows and French doors. We also managed to salvage 13 vintage Rostand portholes off a decommissioned US Navy ship. The reflections of light off the water up onto the ceiling on a sunny day are simply delightful.

You enter the wheelhouse from fore or aft doors to:

Kitchen-diner (12ft x 24ft) - five windows to the walls, skylight to the ceiling, French doors fore, brand new hardwood door aft, oak flooring, butler sink, gas cooker plumbed in, white goods currently plumbed/plugged in (negotiable), beech worksurface, stairs down to:

Living room (14ft x 24ft) - large multifuel stove, oak flooring, portholes and large rectangular skylight, leading off to:

Master bedroom (14ft x 14ft) - portholes and deckprisms (round skylights), carpet to floor;

Second bedroom (11ft x 8ft) - porthole and deckprisms, carpet to floor;

Third bedroom (14ft x 9ft) - portholes and deckprisms, floorboard paint to floor, bed built over where the engine used to be;

Bathroom (12ft x 6ft) - cast iron rolltop bath, sink with mixer tap in Victorian washstand (new taps recently fitted), plumbing for flushing toilet if desired (we currently use a chemical loo, but on a previous mooring did use a flushing toilet), heated towel rail.

There is underfloor heating throughout the downstairs.

Combi boiler (Worcester Junior).

Storage under stairs.

Outside - a huge amount of flat outdoor deckspace for BBQs and parties (we managed to keep the deck flat during the conversion - many similar barges have too great a gradient on deck to be used much for large number of people).

We're currently moored on the beautiful Norfolk Broads, overlooking a large and stunning wetland wildlife reserve (Carlton Marshes), about 35 mins from Norwich and 25 mins from any number of beaches. The owners of the marina have indicated that the buyer will be able to take on the mooring here. At present there is no maximum number of nights per year that you are permitted to stay on your boat, but this mooring does not currently have residential status (meaning that you cannot get post here).

https://www.suffolkwildlifetrust.org/carlton

We don't have an engine, allowing for more living space inside. If the buyer wishes to take the barge somewhere else, we brought her here from London three years ago via the North Sea and would be happy to advise on towage options. The journey from Twickenham to nearby Lowestoft Harbour took 24 hours.

The Broads Authority toll 2022-23 has already been paid in full.

Boat Safety Scheme certificate valid till October 2024.

We did all conversion work in 2014 out of the water, including lots of new steel plating and blacking (Jotamastic 87) and two surveys (before and after the works). The deck and wheelhouse were brand new in 2014. The original iron-riveted hull had already been totally replated in welded steel.

Whilst moored in London we ran a successful AirBnB business out of the barge, and I can point to similar barges in this part of the world being rented out for up to £2,900 a week in the Summer to holiday-makers - so the buyer could use this as a lucrative business alongside or instead of a full-time home or a holiday escape.

We have just repainted the entire interior of the boat: this barge is fresh and ready to go!

Feel free to make an offer.

Specifications

Location Map