CITY OF EDINBORO - The remarkable story of a Hull sailing Trawler by Peter J Norton

This well produced hardback brings to light the lucky survival of the last remaining Hull smack.

Hull had become the largest sailing fishing port in Britain because of its proximity to the rich North Sea fishing grounds, and because the railways were able to speedily transport fresh fish to burgeoning Victorian industrial towns. This combination brought considerable wealth to Hull, so boat owners were able to afford the very best in new construction.

The CITY OF EDINBORO of 1884 was built to Lloyds + 10 A1 and salted. This quality of construction is described and must be one of the factors behind her incredible survival having fished the ferocious North Sea and North Atlantic commercially for 97 years – and with her planking held in place with wooden treenails! The Humber was convenient to the

middle grounds of the North Sea, like the Dogger Bank. Large vessels were needed to work so far offshore, and today CITY OF EDINBORO is the largest surviving British smack. The fact that her full construction and fit-out details survive makes her a vessel of significant historic interest. This carefully researched 114-page book also includes details of her ownership and history throughout her long life, made very readable by its author mining engineer Dr Norton who is obviously used to writing clear reports! He is kindly donating the proceeds of the sale of this book to the Excelsior Trust who are the current guardians