Have you got a question that's not answered here ? Let us know, use the "Contact Us" section and send us a message using the "Boatmaster" category.
(Left click a question to see the answer).
Where was she built ?
She was built at Lake Lothing, between Oulton Broad and Lowestoft in the yard of William Brighton.
When was she built ?
She was launched in October 1898.
Who was she built for ?
Albion was built for the firm of Bungay Maltsters, W.D. and A.E. Walker.
What is she made of ?
Mainly oak.
What are her dimensions ?
58ft. x 15ft. x 4ft. 6ins. (17.69m x 4.57m x 1.37m), or, if the rudder is included 65ft. overall.
What weight is she unladen ?
23 tons.
What did she carry ?
Almost everything from beet to manure ! Cargoes have included coal, ice, timber and lastly sugar beet.
How much freight did she carry ?
She was registered to carry 35 tons but has been known to carry upto 42 tons.
How were they loaded/unloaded ?
Invariably by hand and often by the wherrymen themselves. A unique "legless" style of wheelbarrow was associated with wherry cargo handling.
Why is the sail black ?
The sails started off white, then to try and prevent the sail rotting (due to UV exposure) they were coated with herring oil which effectivelly made them red. However rodents such as rats liked the flavour and tended to eat the sails so they were coated with pitch. Hence black sailed traders.
Why is the bow painted white ?
To aid visibility when sailing at night with a light on the stem post.
What size is the sail ?
1200 square feet (without the bonnet).
Where did they originate ?
The wherries were a direct developement of the Norfolk Keel which itself is believed to have been a developement of the Viking longships.
How tall is the mast ?
42feet (12.80m).
How heavy is the mast ?
Approximatelly 3 tonnes including the counterweight.
What is the mast made of ?
Pitch pine.
How is the mast lowered with the winch "in the way" ?
The barrel of the winch swings aside to allow the foot of the mast and its counterweight to rotate upwards through the carling hatch.
Why is the vane called a 'Jenny Morgan' ?
Allegedly the name of a popular Welsh singer/song "adopted" by wherrymen.
How many crew ?
Two, traditionally a man and a boy. It was not uncommon for a wherryman to carry his family aboard and indeed on occaisions a wherryman's wife would act as mate. However they would normally have a small cottage in which the family would live while "father" was earning their living sailing the rivers.
How many wherries were built ?
At their peak there were over 300.
What did they do when wind and tide prohibited them from progress ?
Put the kettle on if they didn't fancy the quants !
When was the last trip as a commercial freight carrier ?
1972.
What is her draft ?
Approximatelly 4 feet 6 inches.
Why is Albion carvel built whilst all other Norfolk wherries were clinker built ?
One of the great wherry "debates" ! A popular view is that her smooth hull prevented snagging in the locks of the southern rivers, however the bin irons extended further outwards ? Latterly there is a theory that she was built "on the cheap" using timber oddments. As many of these were quite short it was a simpler construction process to "butt" the timbers rather than overlay clinker fashion.
Is there an engine ?
No. The only "power" was provided by the wind via the sail or the wherryman's muscles via the quants !
How fast can she sail ?
Typically 3-5 knots, max 7-8 knots. Rumoured to have been sailing around 9-10 knots when mast snapped on Breydon Water !
Did they sail at sea ?
Having evolved for use in the shallow Broadland waters wherries were not really suitable for work at sea. However some of the larger wherries were used as "lighters" transferring cargoes to and from larger vessels moored outside harbours such as Yarmouth. It was also not unknown for wherries to sail between Yarmouth and Lowestoft by sea rather than take the far longer inland route.
