Helen & Violet | National Historic Ships

Registration number 2271

Status Registered

a12admin

Arthur Felton who owned Helen and Violet between 1909 and 1927

Helen & Violet - singlehanded drifting in the Colne - Photo Comp 2011 entry

Helen & Violet - A Turneresque morning - Photo Comp 2011 entry

Helen & Violet - showing work replacing the transom and sternpost

Helen & Violet - restored transom, detail of work done

Details

Function Fishing Vessel

Location Pin Mill

Vessel type Thames Bawley

Current use Private use

Available to hire No

Available for excursions No

Construction

Builder Cann, John & Herbert, Harwich

Built in 1906

Hull material Wood

Rig Gaff Cutter

Number of decks 1

Number of masts 1

Propulsion Sail

Boiler type None

Boilermaker None

Dimensions

Breadth: Beam

13.90 feet (4.24m)

Depth

5.30 feet (1.62m)

Length: Overall

36.00 feet (10.98m)

History

HELEN & VIOLET was built for James Kimber of Leigh, where she fished for the first thirty years of her life. In the mid thirties, she had her first engine installed, and was sold to William Annis who worked her out of Brightlingsea. She has remained in the Colne area since then fishing and later, unrigged, as watch boat to the Tollesbury Oyster Co. until she was sold to a private owner in about 1972. She took occasional fishing parties until being restored back to her original rig and having her engine removed. She has sailed as a private yacht ever since.

Key dates

1906
Built by J & H Cann as a Fishing Vessel (Leigh Bawley) for James Kimber of Leigh and fished for 30 years
1922
She was owned by Arthur Felton and she raced successfully and won the Leigh Regatta several times
1936
She had her first engine installed and was sold to William Annis who worked her out of Brightlingsea
1972
Sold to a private owner
1980
New owner

Grants

January 2011
A Sustainability Award of ú1000 towards the sternpost and transom was made from the Strategic Development Fund of National Historic Ships