George and Alice | National Historic Ships

Registration number 2445

Status Registered

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Details

Function Fishing Vessel

Subfunction Dredger

Location Rye

Vessel type Essex Smack

Current use Private use

Available to hire No

Available for excursions No

Construction

Builder Aldous & Sons, Brightlingsea

Built in 1909

Hull material Wood

Rig Gaff Cutter

Number of decks 1

Number of masts 1

Propulsion Sail

Number of engines 1

Primary engine type Inboard diesel

Boiler type None

Boilermaker None

Dimensions

Depth

5.50 feet (1.68m)

Length: Overall

45.00 feet (13.73m)

History

GEORGE AND ALICE is an Essex oyster smack: a fishing vessel of timber carvel construction built in 1909 by Aldous & Sons of Brightlingsea. Her current engine is a Yanmar diesel model 3JH3. From 1909 to 1939 she was commercial oyster dredging, stoweboating and inshore trawling under sail from Brightlinsea.

After the second world war she was sold to Malcolm Macgregor and then in 1991 to Colin Shepheard who took her to his workshop in South Devon and fully restored her to her original build. Later, in 1996 GEORGE & ALICE returned to her home port of Brightlingsea and was bought by the Winters family and remains the only fully rebuilt Brightlingsea fishing smack.

As of November 2018, GEORGE & ALICE is moored at Rye, Sussex.

Key dates

1909
Built by Aldous & Sons of Brightlingsea as a Fishing Vessel for George and Alice Stoker
1909-39
She worked as an Oyster Dredger, Stoweboating and Inshore Trawler under sail from Brightlingsea
1945-1975
She worked as a Commercial Dredger and Trawler under engine and cut-down rig
1975
She was re-rigged as a Sailing Smack
1991
She was bought by a new owner who took her to his workshop in South Devon
2010
She was sold to her present owner