Museums' Exhibitions
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The Excelsior Trust's Historic Vessels
Index
- Introduction
- CONCRETIAN FCB (current page)
- CITY OF EDINBORO H1394
- ESTRALITA RX8
Introduction
The Excelsior Trust was originally set up to save the Lowestoft smack EXCELSIOR LT472. Other vessels have been added to assist this original objective.
CONCRETIAN is a wartime mass-produced Ferro Concrete Barge that now serves as a mooring barge for EXCELSIOR at her operating base in Lowestoft's Inner Harbour.
Ashore, in a large boatshed, is the Hull smack CITY OF EDINBORO H1394 and the East Channel lugger ESTRALITA RX8. These vessels are to be 'vehicles' to keep the skills alive that are needed to maintain EXCELSIOR.
The Trust also has two Class 'C' lifeboats, from Lowestoft-built fishing vessels, for seamanship training.
The Excelsior Trust's Historic Vessels
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CONCRETIAN FCB
At the beginning of the Second World War the Admiralty commissioned the design of a standard dumb barge to be built of concrete. The 84’ long hulls were completed either as cargo lighters or water carriers.
The Excelsior Trust’s barge is a water carrier, which was built in 1943/4 to supply the Allied armies with fresh drinking water following the D-day invasion of Europe. (It was assumed that the local water supplies in Normandy might be damaged or poisoned.)
This particular Ferro-Concrete Barge, or FCB as they were known, was found adrift off Lowestoft in 1949. In 1950 she was sunk to form the ‘T’ head of a jetty on Lake Lothing with her deck was just clear of the water, creating a handy berth for smaller vessels.
Thus this FCB remained, with every tide flowing in and out of her for the next 55 years.
In 2005 the yard changed hands and the FCB had to be cleared to allow for redevelopment. She was raised and donated to the Excelsior Trust for use as a mooring barge for their restored Lowestoft smack.
Out of the water for the first time since she was built, and cleared of 80 tons of silt and accumulated rubbish (see photo), she was found to be in excellent condition. What is so remarkable about the ferro-concrete water barges is that they have easily outlived their steel equivalents, yet they were only built to last long enough to complete one task.
We don’t know her number, but today she is an unusual reminder of the dramatic days of the Second World War. She is also an example of excellent British design, innovation, and workmanship from a period when the nation was fighting for its very survival.
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Exhibition: The Excelsior Trust's Historic Vessels
CONCRETIAN on the slip.
CONCRETIAN on the slip at the Excelsior Yard, Lowestoft, in 2005 having been sunk for 55 years.
WILLIAM McCANN, formerly CITY OF EDINBORO
CITY OF EDINBORO as the charter vessel WILLIAM McCANN after her return to the British flag
CITY OF EDINBORO on the slip
CITY OF EDINBORO on the slip at the Excelsior Yard. The man is 6 ft. tall which illustrates her great size. She has a typical Victorian counter stern.
EXCELSIOR under full sail
EXCELSIOR under full sail consisting of Jib, Jib topsail, Foresail (smacksman term), Mainsail, Main topsail, Mizzen sail, Mizzen Topsail.
ESTRALITA proposed appearence
An elevation and sail plan of ESTRALITA RX8 showing her rig as built, and how she will appear when completed.
