Model, of Yarmouth yawl Royal Sovereign

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A yawl is a small two-masted sailing vessel where the mizzen (aftermost) mast is located before the rudder head. This wooden model represents the yawl 'Royal Sovereign' built in 1853 at Great Yarmouth. It was built to a scale of 1:24 by Mr L Foster of Colchester in Essex.

The double-ended beach yawls of Norfolk and Suffolk were famous in their time as the fastest open boats afloat. From the early 16th century, their crews were organised into companies and made a living by supplying ships anchored off the Norfolk coast. They also helped ships in distress, did salvage work, pilotage and other miscellaneous tasks.

Yawls were not used for fishing but they did help to land catches from drifters and trawlers lying offshore. They became extinct with the rise of steam power and the introduction of the internal combustion engine.

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• Online ID: 000-180-002-075-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland Part 2
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  T.1949.124
• Date: Model: Between 1853 and 1949; Original: 1853
  
• Material: Boat / yawl / model
  
• Dimensions: 36.00" L approx
  
• What: Boat / yawl / model
  
• Subject: 23. SHIPPING, Fishing Boats (Departmental Classification)
  
• Who: L.H. Foster, Chale Cottage, Gore Pit, Kelvedon, Colchester, Essex (Model maker)
  
• Where: England, Essex, Kelvedon
  England, Great Yarmouth
  
• Event:
• Description: Model of the 1853 Yarmouth yawl Royal Sovereign fitted with 3 masts and 8 thwarts, made by Lance Foster of Kelvedon, Essex to a scale of 1:24
  
• References:
  • Storer, J D. Ship Models in the Royal Scottish Museum, Edinburgh: A catalogue of models representing the history of shipping from 1500 BC to the present day. Edinburgh: Royal Scottish Museum Information Series, 1985, p 64. 
• Translations:
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