HistoricaLeigh; Eva Annie

Originally 'Eva Annie' was employed in the hay, straw and general agricultural produce trade in the Maldon area. Abandoned on the Buxey Sands, she was found to have only sunk because she had 'sat' on her own anchor. This had only created a small hole that was easily plugged and she lived on to sail again.

Between the wars 'Eva Annie' had a skipper who was a humorist among bargemen.; it was he who had a cure for bed bugs. He sprinkled pepper on them, claiming that this would make them sneeze and break their backs. He also invented the first wheelhouse for a barge. This consisted of a large cabby's umbrella lashed to the tiller with the claim that ‘wherever I move the tiller goes with me."