Barge Fiodra

Join us on Saturday the 30th March 2024 (10am-6pm) for an intimate experience of Marissa Stoffer's sculptural sensory work on board Barge FIODRA on the River Lea at Tottenham Hale Lock. (see map image).

Suspended in time with the surrounding cityscape filtered out you will be connected to nature through your senses. The artist has magnified an encounter with a rare Black Poplar Tree and observation of the canal's ability to mute the intensity of noise pollution of the enveloping built environment just metres away that bombard us daily.

The artist created the work during a micro artist residency in 2023 on the River Lea for the Canal & River Trust as part of the Trust’s Hinterlands Enfield project. During the residency the artist hiked along the River Lea/Lee Navigation for two days, starting from where the upper river surfaces next to Waulud’s Bank (an earthwork possibly neolithic and dating back to 3000 BC) in Luton. During this walk, the artist experienced the transforming ecologies that the river runs through, collecting sounds and observing the plant and animal species living along its banks.

Marissa Stoffers practice fosters an intimate connection with the non-human world, embodying a way of life and artistic expression. The artist who is interested in ecology and plant lore stayed on board Barge FIODRA during her residency to explore the practice of foraging for colour, where the artist creates dyes and pigments from plants and minerals collected during walks. This ancient, slow craft process- innate and learned through time spent in the Amazon RainForest enables the artist to study plant species, particularly trees with a deep understanding of how their stories intertwine with our cosmologies, evolution, and connection to place.

Some great projects coming up. Delighted to support the Hinterlands Enfield 2023 initiative.

Pleased to appear in "CanalsOnline Magazine" as their featured Roving Canal Trader https://canalsonline.uk/bob-chase-barge-fiodra

FIODRA is for SALE: After 5 years of fun and adventure we are ready to hand over this amazing boat and business to a new owner. The lucky new owner will be able to take on a successful business that has allowed us to live on the canals at virtually no cost. If you are interested visit https://sale.fiodra.co.uk/ I'll not be leaving the cut after 35 years, however, just downsizing!

Barge Fiodra for Sale After 5 years of amazing adventures and projects it’s time to find a new owner for our unique Barge AND Business. If your dream is to combine living comfortably on the waterways while operating a fun and profitable business then this is the boat for you. Fiodra is a purpose built home AND flexible...

FIODRA is for SALE: After 5 years of fun and adventure we are ready to hand over this amazing business to a new owner. The lucky new owner will be able to take on a successful business that has allowed us to live on the canals at virtually no cost. If you are interested visit https://sale.fiodra.co.uk/

This lovely comment from a family made my day.

"The Camera Obscura workshop was an educational, memorable and fun experience for my children & us! Thank you, they each made their first Camera Obscura and have been inspired to learn more!"

Aug 24th - Hinterlands 3 Event in Edmonton.

Hinterlands Enfield 2023 PINHOLE LONDON

All philosophers welcome onboard Barge Fiodra.. is it a boat or a camera? Discuss.

Come and see us in Edmonton on Aug 24th. A great programme of events .. and we are one of them! Come and say hello. Check out our amazing floating Camera Obscura. Make your own with Ben from PINHOLE LONDON .. (not a floating one of course)
Hinterlands Enfield 2023

We are really buzzed to have Ben Nathan (founder of Pinhole London) as our “Artist in Residence“ in June. Ben is inviting people to share their experiences and memories of the River Lea, and surroundings as it flows through Edmonton.

There will be opportunities to co-create images using pinhole cameras including Ben’s amazing Afghan Box Camera.

Drop by and say hello or contact Ben to make sure he will be onboard. Contact details on leaflet

Ben’s residence is part of Enfield Council’s “Untold Edmonton” Project Enfield Council National Lottery Heritage Fund

If you are in East London over Easter come and see our Camera Obscura in action. You can book a visit (no card needed) on this page https://fiodra.co.uk/obscura Or just rock up and wait. We will be collecting (optional) donations to Sightsavers Charity on the day (£3 suggested)

Our 2023 programme includes some exciting creative projects delivered in partnership, with the Canal and River Trust and Pinhole London. Look out for us around the London waterways working with schools and local communities.

In between projects we will still be offering Fiodra for hire for projects, parties and events. Get in touch with us directly to find out what we can offer.

High Tea on the High Seas ! - This has to be one of the best planned parties we have ever had. It all looks amazing .. now they are waiting for their special guests. If you want a special venue for your event - drop us a line.

We've been away on a little trip in salty water. Taking a holiday down the Thames to the Medway River and Estuary. Flat calm going down river.. but may be bumpy on our way back this weekend!

Lovely audiences today at the East End Canal Festival. Doing it all again tomorrow. First Show at 11:30

We are all moored up, in Mile End, ready for the Festival this weekend. Here are the films and the show times.

Barging Through London’ - see the Regent’s Canal at work in 1924

Amateur film of a 1961 boat trip from the Regent’s Canal Dock to Islington

‘Canal Connections’ - a relaxing look at the eastern reach of the Regent’s Canal in its 200th anniversary year

Young people from Young Actors Theatre Islington present the voices and memories of the Cut from local residents (edited)

Drop in to see the film shows starting at:
11.30. 12.15. 1.00. 2.15. 3.00. 3.45. 4.30.

So cute! ... this is the second surprise proposal we have had on the boat. Glad they both said yes.

Looking forward to this event. We will be showing films and selling Jam - of course ! Come and see us.

Looking forward to this event. We will be showing films each day and selling Jam .. of course. Come and say hello.

Summer season 2022 has started well. Here we are on the Regent's Canal in Limehouse. "We had a great time yesterday - thank you for everything!" .. and so they did .. as you can see.

Contact us and make your event special.. summer or winter.

floating jam sale in Tottenham. Easter Monday

We are back up and floating!

If you are looking for a unique venue for your family or business event... drop us a line.

"Dear Bob, I just wanted to say a huge thank you for hosting us on Barge Fiodra on Saturday evening. It was a perfect night, and I could not have asked for anything better. Definitely the best spot on the canal and mild weather to enjoy the evening. Thank you for making it happen"

Marianne R, Nov 2021

We will be leaving Hackney Wick soon. Had some lovely clients on board for intimate parties. Next stop Little Venice for a wine tasting evening and another party. You can join in the wine tasting by going to Ruta40's website.

https://www.ruta40.com/product-page/wine-tasting-evening

We are really looking forward to this event on FIODRA. Still places left if you love wine .. and boats!

Calling all poets and poetry lovers. On Sunday Sept 19 at 7:30 we will be hosting an on and offline celebration of waterway/canal inspired poetry. The live gig will be in Rickmansworth but you can also participate online. POETS are welcome to read .. apply for a slot here https://forms.gle/6ZVgR41vQ7sVSFjN7
Booking details coming soon.

Sunday August 1: Come, listen, sing and celebrate Enfield and Tottenham's vibrant waterside community with canal-side stories and songs. Part of the CRT Hinterlands Project

https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/enjoy-the-waterways/events/2021-07-31-the-river-ramblers

Well the flowers are blooming - but the weather is wet, wet, wet as we navigate from East to West through central London.

It's been frustrating few months on Fiodra. Plans have been made and have collapsed many times due to Covid. By now we had hoped to be open as an Art Gallery!

Our current plan is to open for private hires and bookings from September 2021, when we will be back in the East of London, on the River Lea and the Regent's Canal. If you would like to use our beautiful barge for an event from Sept onwards - Message us anytime. All the best - Skipper Bob, Moira, Anna and Jake

Our friends on barge Molly Anna are organising a series of mini-arts festivals in London for 2021. We hope to be part of it.

Help make it happen by just pledging £2 and sharing with your friends.

"We want to unleash the potential of London's canals as an alternative, safe, outdoor performance space, and show other boaters how they can do the same. We do that by hosting 7 weekend mini-festivals from Paddington to Hays on the Grand Union Canal w/ music, theatre, workshops and talks"

https://www.spacehive.com/yourcanalboat

wwww.spacehive.com