ABC CK53 is a 40ft Aldous smack built in 1884.

ABC

ABC is a fishing smack, built in 1884 by Robert Aldous, Brightlingsea and registered as CK53. She operated mainly in the area where she was built in the ownership of the Barbrook family and was named after three of the sons – Arthur, Bert and Charlie. In 1937, she was sold to Arthur Hempstead and taken out of fishing. Two years later, she was laid ashore on the edge of Feldy Marsh, opposite West Mersea. The first winter there saw her surrounded by ice and damage to her wooden hull caused her to sink. In 1997, a local resident conceived the idea of raising her as a restoration project. She was dug out of the mud and towed to a nearby yard for the work to take place. She is now owned by a smack enthusiast who has plans to rebuild her again soon.

  • 1884 Built as a fishing smack by Robert Aldous of Brightlingsea and registered as CK53
  • 1937 Taken out of fishing
  • 1939 Laid ashore opposite West Mersea
  • 1997 Dug out of mud and towed to West Mersea hard and moved to a nearby shed for restoration
On the hard at West Mersea