Lydia Eve YH89

The Lydia Eva is the last surviving steam drifter of the herring fishing fleet based in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk. The Great Yarmouth herring fleet had made the town the major herring port in the world in the early part of the 20th century. She is listed as part of the National Historic Fleet.
Lydia Eva was requisitioned for the Admiralty by the Ministry of War Transport on the 10.12.42 for £50.0.0 she was initially used by the Ministry of Aircraft Production, (MOAP), as a salvage vessel and remained in service with the MOAP until 1947. On 1st April 1947 Lydia Eva was sold to the Air Ministry as a mooring vessel and renamed HMS WATCHMOOR
 
Between 1948 and 1952 Watchmoor was used between Milford Haven, Watchet, Appledore, London, Cardiff and Pembroke Dock. On the 21st December 1965 it was proposed that the vessel and crew be taken over by Navy Department effective from 1st April 1966  based at Pembroke Dock . In April 1966 Watchmoor was painted in naval colours and then received electrical equipment fitted by Marconi. In 1968 Watchmoors Decca and Fulmar equipment were transferred to Miner III and Watchmoor declared surplus to requirements.
Watchmoor was acquired by The Maritime Trust in 1972 and renamed back to Lydia Eva.
 
She steamed sailed back into Great Yarmouth on the 1st October 1972
 
From 1978 until 1990 she was on display at St. Catherine’s Dock, London.
 

In 1995 the Lydia Eva & Mincarlo Charitable Trust Limited bought LYDIA EVA for £1.00 to restore and preserve the vessel.