Model, of Colchester smack Shamrock

A smack is a small single-masted fishing craft. This wooden model represents the 'Shamrock', a Colchester registered smack used as a dredger in the oyster industry. The original vessel was built in 1907 for the Tollesbury and West Mersea Fishery Company.

The model, built to a scale of 1:24 by Mr L Foster of Colchester in Essex, shows a small decked vessel with a nearly horizontal keel.

Smacks were manned by a crew of three and were favoured because of their speed and manoeuvrability in restricted waterways. They worked from the towns and villages on the Essex coast such as Brightlingsea, West Mersea, Tollesbury and Wivenhoe.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-180-002-076-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.1952.48
• Date: Model: Between 1907 and 1952; Original: 1907
  
• Material: Inscription: SHAMROCK CK 200
  Smack / oyster dredger / model
  
• Dimensions:
• What: Smack / oyster dredger / model
  
• Subject: 23. SHIPPING, Fishing Boats (Departmental Classification)
  
• Who: Lance Foster, Chale Cottage, Gore Pit, Kelvedon, Colchester (Model maker)
  Shamrock (oyster dredger)
  Tollesbury and West Mersea Fishery Company (Owner of original oyster dredger)
  
• Where: England, Colchester
  England, Essex, Kelvedon
  
• Event:
• Description: Model of the Colchester smack or oyster dredger Shamrock, CK 200, to a scale of 1/2 of an inch to 1 foot, the original built in 1907 for the Tollesbury and West Mersea Fishery Company
  
• 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 66. 
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