Additional material courtesy of Barry Banham

Technical

Official Number: 161639
Yard Number: 251
Completed: 1930
Gross Tonnage: 138
Net Tonnage: 64
Length: 95.0 ft
Breadth: 20.6 ft
Depth: 9.8 ft
Built: King’s Lynn Slipway Co Ltd, King’s Lynn
Engine: T.3-cyl by Crabtree & Co (R.H. Hutchinson), Gt Yarmouth (Engine No.618)
Boiler: Riley Bros (Boilermakers) Ltd, Stockton on Tees

History

1930: Launched by King’s Lynn Slipway Co Ltd, King’s Lynn (Yd.No.251) for Henry James Eastick, Gorleston as LYDIA EVA. Towed to Gt. Yarmouth for machinery fit.
22.7.1930: Engine trials.
23.7.1930: Registered at Yarmouth (YH89).
26.7.1930: Mortgaged to Barclays Bank Ltd, City of London (A).
8.1930: Completed (Built at King’s Lynn by Tyneside labour due to industrial action at Crabtree & Co Ltd, Gt. Yarmouth).
1930s: Seasonal trawling from Fleetwood (Lowestoft Fish Selling Co Ltd, Lowestoft, managing agents). (Fished more successfully as a trawler as herring drift nets damaged by bluff bow. Also used as a herring carrier).
11.10.1937: At Yarmouth landed 221 crans of herring.
12.1938: Last landing at Yarmouth.
21.10.1939: Sold by mortgagee under mortgage (A) to South Caernarvonshire Yacht Co Ltd, Pwllhelli for £800. Converted and re-classified as a salvage vessel for Air Ministry contract associated with Pwllheli and other West coast Bombing & Gunnery Ranges.
18.1.1940: Mortgaged to Barclays Bank Ltd, City of London (B).
1940: South Caernarvonshire Yacht Co Ltd t/a Western Marine Craft Ltd, Pwllheli.
10.12.1942: Requisitioned for war service with Ministry of Aircraft Production (Hire rate £50.0.0d/month).
27.5.1943: Compulsorily acquired by M.O.W.T (Ministry of Aircraft Production). Further converted at Abersoch for cargo with strengthened main mast and derrick. John Deheer Ltd, Grimsby (Pwllheli) designated managers.
4.9.1943: Yarmouth registry closed except as far as relates to mortgage (B). “Registry no longer required”.
7.1943: Registered at London.
1943-1945: Based Abersoch, Pwllheli and Ilfracombe.
1945: Transferred to Maryport, attendant to Mawbray Bombing Range.
1947: Transferred to Weymouth.
1.4.1947: Sold to Air Ministry, London. Registered at London as WATCHMOOR.
1948-1952: Based Milford, Watchet, Appledore, London, Cardiff and Pembroke Dock.
1952: Transferred to Whitehaven.
21.12.1965: Proposed to transfer all MOD (Air) vessels to MOD (Navy).
1.4.1966: Transferred to Director of Marine Services (DMS), Bath. British registry closed. Based Pembroke Dock, crew on D606 articles.
27. 6.1966: In Cardigan Bay experienced engine problems. EMPIRE NETTA (290grt/1945) connected and delivered Holyhead.
1966: Rebuilt on Tyneside with new wheelhouse and new boiler by Stockton Chemical Engineers & Riley Boilers Ltd, Stockton on Tees (Boiler made 1961).
1967-1968: Various duties as required by DMS.
1968: Declared surplus to requirements. De-equipped and laid up at Pembroke Dock.
1969: Sold to Turner & Hickman Ltd, Glasgow.
1972: Sold to The Maritime Trust. Docked and overhauled in Penzance by Holman & Sons Ltd.
1.10.1972: Arrived Gt. Yarmouth.
1972: Registered at Yarmouth as LYDIA EVA.
1973: Rebuilt by George Overy Ltd, Lowestoft.
1973-1978: Following partial restoration at Lowestoft, static display at Gt. Yarmouth.
1978-1986: Static display at St. Kathrines Dock, London.
1986-1990: Exhibition closed. Laid up in West India Dock.
1989: Lydia Eva Charitable Trust formed.
1990: Sold to Trust for £1.00.
30.6.1990: Arrived Gt. Yarmouth in tow of HECTOR READ (65grt/1966).
2000: Slipped at Lowestoft but on survey found to need extensive shell plate renewals. Laid up in Lake Lothing.
12.2006: Application for Heritage Lottery Funding successful (£839,000).
1.3.2007-18.3.2008: Slipped by Small & Co (Marine & Engineering) Ltd, Lowestoft for survey and 60% shell plating and some frame renewals, deck relaid, electrical installation update, start of machinery overhaul.
9.2008: Towed to Gt. Yarmouth for Great Yarmouth Maritime Festival.
10.2008: Returned to Lowestoft.
10.2008-20.5.2009: At Small & Co (Marine & Engineering) Ltd, Lowestoft to complete boilerwork, museum and after cabin fit out.
3.2009: In steam, successful boiler trial.
20.5.2009: Returned to Gt. Yarmouth.
12.2009: Arrived Lowestoft from Gt. Yarmouth under tow.
12.2009-2010: Continued refurbishment by Small & Co (Marine & Engineering) Ltd, Lowestoft.
3.2010: Successful steaming trials in Lake Lothing.
15.5.2010: Steamed to Gt. Yarmouth. Open to visitors.
14.12.2010: Steamed to Lowestoft for further work by Small & Co Ltd. Laid over adjacent to Laundry Lane slip.
2018: Still in steam.

Click to see Lydia Eva under steam
Video courtesy of CanaryCity (YouTube)

Click to enlarge images
© Copyright Chris Allen and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence

S.D/T. Lydia Eva YH89

S.D/T. Lydia Eva YH89
Picture courtesy of James Holt

Watchmoor
Picture courtesy of The James Cullen Collection

S.D/T. Lydia Eva YH89
Picture courtesy of The James Cullen Collection

S.D/T. Lydia Eva YH89
Picture courtesy of The Maureen Tatlow Collection

Changelog
13/02/2011: Page published. 5 updates since then.
17/12/2015: Picture added.
09/11/2018: Removed FMHT watermarks from images.
15/05/2021: Updated history.