Registration number 1451
Status National Historic Fleet
a12admin
ADC under sail port side view
Back racing
ADC returns
Crew on ADC
ADC in company with Hyacinth
ADC under cover
ADC - under sail in the river Colne in Essex taken during the 1980's
ADC prior to her rebuild at St Osyth boat yard.
ADC under restoration at St Osyth boat yard.

Details

Function Fishing Vessel
Subfunction Dredger
Location Brightlingsea
Current use Private use
Available to hire No
Available for excursions No

Construction

Builder Aldous & Sons, Brightlingsea
Built in 1890
Hull material Wood
Rig Gaff Cutter
Number of decks 1
Number of masts 1
Propulsion Sail
Number of engines 1
Primary engine type Diesel
Boiler type None
Boilermaker None

Dimensions

Breadth: Beam
11.90 feet (3.63m)
Depth
5.61 feet (1.71m)
Length: Overall
45.00 feet (13.72m)
Tonnage: Gross
18.00

History

Built in 1890 by Aldous of Brightlingsea for the Barbrookes of Tollesbury. She fished with the Barbrooke fleet out of Tollesbury from 1895 to 1930s. The Barbrookes had a large fleet of smacks but ADC (named after Ada, Dick & Charlie) was their favourite.

Registered at Colchester as a dredging Smack. Main trades being five fingers, culch, oysters, and stowboating for sprats. She was renowned for her speed and is thought to still holds the course record for the Colne match. ADC is a fine example of Aldous work having been built to work the whole of the Thames estuary with a very good sailing ability. Her engine was fitted in 1939, removed in 1967 and re-rigged for sailing as original.

Graham Wallis purchased ADC from the Harmans in 1997 and she was rebuilt by Allan Williams and Andrew Balfe between 1997 – 2001 at the St Osyth boat yard.

Since her relaunch she has had periods of layup, but a maintenance programme has been implemented each year. She is based at the Smack Dock at Brightlingsea. 

Update 2023, now under new ownership.

Key dates

  • 1890

    Built in Brightlingsea
  • 1895-1930s Fished out of Tollesbury
  • 1939

    Engine fitted
  • 1967

    Engine removed
  • 1997-2001

    Full scale restoration undertaken at St Osyth boat yard, Engine and working rig.
  • 2001

    Relaunched at St Osyth boatyard and used for private sailing
  • 2001-2005

    Sailing / racing and fishing out of Brightlingsea

  • 2005-2020

    Laid up under cover at St Osyth with servicing and maintenance programme in place
  • 2020-2022

    Back out on the water Sailing and racing

  • 2023

    Laid up for season with ongoing maintenance. Anticipated to be back sailing in 2024

Own this vessel?

If you are the owner of this vessel and would like to provide more details or updated information, please contact info@nationalhistoricships.org.uk