Built in 1898, she served as a trading vessel and then as a lighter, until being acquired by the Norfolk Wherry Trust for restoration and preservation in 1949.

[2] Albion was built by William 'Billy' Brighton at his shipyard on Lake Lothing between Oulton Broad and Lowestoft for W.D.

Shortly afterwards she was bought by the General Steam Navigation Company, which changed her name to Plane and appointed a new master, George Farrow, who remained with her until the Second World War when she was stripped down and used as a lighter.

[2] In 1949 she was acquired by the then newly formed Norfolk Wherry Trust which renamed her Albion, restored her and operated her full-time as a trading wherry until 1953 when, unable to support a full-time crew, Albion's hold was swept out and she spent summers as a crewed charter accommodating groups of young people sleeping in hammocks.

However, after sinking a further two times, it was recognised that this was economically unsustainable and in 1961 the Trust decided that Albion would never carry 'dirty' cargo again.

[3] In 2010, Albion was awarded the runner-up position by National Historic Ships in its annual Flagship competition.