Bessie

Current boat name

Bessie

Boat class

7635

Function

Fishing and Hunting

Type

Length (m / ft)

7.92 / 26ft

Beam (m / ft)

3.05 / 10ft

Date of build

1935

Place of build

Sheringham

Present use

Restoration

BESSIE was built as a 26ft Whelker by J Johnson of Sheringham in 1935 for fished from Wells as BESSIE LN 16. Now under restoration at Burnham Norton GH 02 May 2012 The following infromation is from Rescue Wooden Boats We are very pleased to have acquired whelker Bessie from Trevor Farman in Yarmouth from where she was delivered to Morston Quay by Abbey Transport Ltd on December 7th 2011. She is one of the last remaining Johnson built whelkers. She is 26 ft long and 10ft wide. She had an engine and a dipping lugsail. She was built by Johnson in approximately 1935 for the Cox family who whelked with her out of Wells-next-the-Sea for approximately 30 years, license number LN 16.Squeakie Bishop then bought her and used her for angling parties from Blakeney and then Gorleston where she has been used as a pleasure and fishing boat ever since. She is registered as a Dunkirk Little Ship as Loady Cox sailed her to Ramsgate and she played her part there. We believe she did go across to France on a mission as well. During the winter of 2013 and 2014 essential work was carried out on Bessie to repair damage and keep her stable until she can have her major refit. At the same time the added wheel house was removed and her decks strenghened so she looks much more like her original 1935 self. David Hewitt and Tom Gathercole carried out the work with plenty of help from volunteers. We regard Bessie as a very important boat. She needs major restoration and a new engine. Rescue Wooden Boats 2015