Name Three Brothers

The THREE BROTHERS was built in 1912 by Bridlington boatbuilders Baker and Percy Siddall in their Bow Street workshop for Robert Crawford of Bridlington at a cost of £70 excluding the sails and the iron work. Robert named the coble the THREE BROTHERS after his three sons, William, George and Abraham but unfortunately his sons died at the beginning of the First World War and she was sold on in 1916. 

She continued to be used in Bridlington as a sailing coble for fishing and the pleasure trade until 1920 when she had an engine fitted. She was moved to Whitby to fish for the duration of the Second World War as many other boats from Whitby had been called to active service before returning to Bridlington in 1945. 1946 saw her moving again when she was sold to a company building a bridge across the River Tees and used to ferry workmen across the river.

Returning to Bridlington once again in 1961, she was used as an angling coble and licenced to carry 36 passengers on angling trips in Bridlington Bay and around Flamborough Head. Many visitors recount stories of their fishing trips on Three Brothers during this time. 

The Bridlington Harbour Commissioners maybe had some foresight into the decline of the traditional local cobles and so bought the then motor-powered Three Brothers in 1983 with restoration in mind and returning her to sail. The Three Brothers was fully restored to sail under the supervision of the Harbour Master and Harbour shipwright at the time. Her propeller shaft and tunnel were taken out and a new keel was fitted together with new bottom planks. A small outboard engine was fitted in place of her engine to take her in and out of the harbour entrance before the sails were set. 

The Three Brothers was recommissioned on 29th August 1986 and handed over to the Bridlington Sailing Coble Preservation Society that had been set up by the Harbour Commissioners specifically to sail and maintain her.

In 2012, THREE BROTHERS' centenary year, she underwent major restoration work, which lasted between September of that year and March 2013. Much of the vessel was rebuilt from the waterline up.

In 2024, THREE HARBOURS underwent major restoration work at the Bridlington Harbour Vessel Maintenance Facility, between July and October. The work was carried out by Bridlington Sailing Coble Preservation Society members and volunteers under the supervision of retired boatbuilder John Clarkson. The work included: replacing hull timbers as needed; repairing the transom; re-corking full forward decking; repairing the engine box; replacing the mast step; removing all old varnish and paint on the insade and outside of the hull and repainting in new colours. The vessel was relaunched on 23rd October 2024 following a short ceremony and blessing performed by the Bridlington Christchurch Reverend and attended by a representative of the Bridlington Harbour Commissioners, members of the Bridlington Sailing Coble Preservation Society and the public. The re-launch was also covered by local press.

The THREE BROTHERS is the only surviving sailing coble of her type to be built in Bridlington. Her preservation is of great historical significance, not only to Bridlington and Bridlington Harbour, but also to the maritime and fishing heritage of the entire East Coast. She is sailed most weekends by members of the Bridlington Sailing Coble Preservation Society members when wind and sea conditions are favourable and is a sight to behold with the wind in her sails crossing Bridlington Bay.