Sir John Moore built 1826

Early ferries seem to have been little more than single mast boats, little larger than ships lifeboats we know of today. Landing passengers were either carried ashore or waded the shallows. Interestingly, when a horse was brought on board or was in the process of a sale, some would ask if it could stand in a boat, and, or jump cleanly from boat to shore! This apparently affected the price!

Businessmen were now beginning to look upon Wallasey as a "desirable place of residence" and the introduction of steam gave the impetus to a growing population. In 1821 only sailing ships sails the river, whereas, in 1823 steam packets ran hourly services across the river. These two boats could have been the "Alice" and the "Seacombe". In a 1819 newspaper mention is made of the Magazine Ferry run by a Mr Roberts. In a Liverpool publication there is mention of sailboat ferry from Magazine - Liverpool in 1821.

Two steamboats appear to have operated between Hoylake and Liverpool. The "Hero" and the "Paul Pry" are also recorded as calling in at Magazine's on their way from Liverpool. Many of the Magazine passengers will have had business there with many of the ships that used the locality as an anchorage. Point to note is that many of these ships were armed, and would be depositing their powder at the Liscard Magazine before proceeding to dock. Who owned these two steam ferries is unknown. By 1846 this immense traffic had all but vanished, sailing boats still ran between what is now Princes Pier to Magazines. Wallasey steam ferries were by now operating from Seacombe, Egremont & New Brighton.

The earliest steamer recorded was Sir John Moore a wooden boat built in Dumbarton in 1826. A strangely long funnel supplemented by a mast and sail.

In 1834, passengers of Egremont Ferry made complaint that their Ferry was not there. It had been taken out by its owner, Capt Askew, engaged in towing sailing ships, for £1 a go!

By 1856 the Fleet consisted of Tiger, Elizabeth, Wallasey, Thomas Wilson, Fairy, James Atherton and Queen of Beauty. All were iron except Wallasey. The Queen of Beauty had been described as a "gentleman's boat". All were small paddle boats, probably about 150 ton, open decks and a narrow bridge for the captain. This bridge stretched out over the paddle wheel coverings.  The engines of these engines did not actually have much power. The Thomas Wilson (1845) would have her engines giving up halfway across the river. It took the engineer to insert a crowbar between the planking and levering the crank. On an unknown date, passengers arrived at Seacombe Ferry to find a funnel protruding from the river! Apparently the bottom had become holed at low tide and when the tide rose, the boat did not.

The Gem

The Gem, which had been briefly called Liscard, left Seacombe Ferry at approximately 0930 hrs on 26th November 1878. She was carrying about 250 passengers, rather too many to be considered safe. There was a dense fog. In the river lay the sailing ship Bowfell, a Brocklebank ship, at anchor. The tide was running at flood and the Gem was pushed into the bows of the Bowfell. The ships bowsprit knocked over the funnel and caused a panic. Some passengers were pushed overboard and 15 were killed. The panic was unnecessary as the boat had neither been holed nor in danger of sinking.

In 1861 The Coulbourn's right to the ferries were purchased by Wallasey Local Board. They appointed Mr B Poole as the first Ferry Manager. He was succeeded by William Carson in 1863, who managed till 1881.

New boats were commissioned around 1862 and new gangways were ordered from Scotts of Tranmere at this time. They were larger than previous and had a saloon, the floor of which was lower than the deck and light came in from side windows. The deck above the saloon was fitted with seats. One of these, the Mayflower (241 tons) another being the Waterlily of 204 tons, which could carry 790 passengers. 140 feet in length, 40 foot wide across the paddles.

Waterlily

Carrying coal gas illumination, the Waterlily was a floating bomb in that she was carrying a large container beneath deck for this purpose. One stray spark and it would have ended up in the great breakers yard in the sky! A third built was the Wildrose, of 241 tons.

In 1863, William Carson designed the Heatherbell. 205 tons, the first ferry with two funnels. She had cabins below deck and saloons on deck, over which ran a promenade deck. She was 160 foot long and could carry 807 passengers. She ran on New Brighton - Liverpool for 14 trouble free years.

Heatherbell

In 1864 the Mayflower (241 tons) was on the river on 13th January 1864. She got carried away by the tide and, also in dense fog, found its way alongside the Stuart & Douglas ship, the Ellen May. Passengers were transferred on board and were entertained by the ships officers until the early hours when another ferry, sent out to search for the Mayflower, arrived on the scene. Also in 1864, the tiger was sold for £500. The Wildrose was considered by many to be unseaworthy. William Carson, Ferry Manager, publicly refuted this but it was on records as being the subject of penalty clauses  to the debt of £900 for default in her construction and delivery. Obviously, something was wrong.

Growing volumes of traffic brought the need for the provision of newer, bigger boats. A Glasgow company was commissioned to build 3 new boats. Daisy and Primrose of 285 tons and Sunflower of 242 tons, would be for freight. They were delivered in 1880. Sunflower was badly designed for freight, uneven loads would cause her to list dangerously. So she was refitted for passengers, being extremely successful, as were the other two. All were twin funnelled and could take up to 950 passengers. Hulls were divided into watertight compartments, safety being considered for the first time. Daisy actually remained in service up to 1910.

The second Wallasey of that name was built in 1881 and was the first screw driven boat of the fleet. For 10-15 years the Wallasey coped with the luggage traffic and then an ex Birkenhead boat, the Woodchurch, renamed Shamrock, was purchased, to supplement the freight. It didn't last long.

In 1883 the Violet of 273 tons commenced 15 years service. In 1884 the Crocus (301 tons) and Snowdrop in 1885, sister ship. Both were twin screws and could accommodate 1300 passengers. In the early 1890's, Crocus did the same as the Gem had done in 1878; this time the bowsprit of the Eurydice took away both funnels!

Crocus/Snowdrop

In 1886 Queen Victoria paid a visit to Merseyside and is depicted below, on board the Ferry Boat, Claughton.

In 1891 the arrival of the Thistle saw a return to paddles and was a great success. John Herron and Pansy followed in 1896. Pansy was eventually lost in Bull Bay, Anglesey en route to London during WW1.

1901, the ferry Seacombe was built. Also same year, the Lily and the Rose, both 514 tons and passenger capacity rose to 1800. Screw propelled.

Lily/Rose 1901

https://player.bfi.org.uk/player/watch-snowdrop-ferry-at-seacombe-1901-150651630/ZkMnM4ZjoIr3Ze2tJ4898SROodce7tGh  1901 film of ferries

In 1906 The Iris and the Daffodil appeared, two very famous names in Mersey Ferry history. Both were used on a Naval raid to Zeebrugge on 23rd April 1918.

In 1910 John Joyce and Snowdrop (second of that name) entered service, both being built here by Cammell Laird. John Joyce was originally destined to be the Bluebell but, for some obscure reason, the board of Trade refused permission. Snowdrop served until 1936 when sold to Dublin, then to Cork 10 years after. During WW2 Snowdrop was a tender on the Firth of Forth in Scotland renamed the Thane of Fife.

Iris in 1918  and Daffodil on return from Zeebrugge - not yet "Royals" but soon to be

Zeebrugge 23 April 1918

The object of the British attack was to prevent German submarines from using Bruges as a base, by blocking the Bruges Canal at its entrance into Zeebrugge harbour. As this was to be effected by sinking three old cruisers, which would have to pass batteries on the Mole, it was first necessary to destroy these batteries. The vessels chosen to carry the troops for this attack were the cruiser Vindictive and the two Wallasey ferry boats, Iris and Daffodil. The ferry-boats were chosen because they only drew eight feet six inches of water and therefore could be safely taken over minefields; also, having double hulls, they were practically unsinkable. On reaching the Mole at Zeebrugge the Vindictive’s anchors failed to hold, and the captain of the Daffodil, although wounded, pinned the Vindictive to the Mole by manoeuvring into position against her. The Vindictive’s gangways were then dropped to the parapet and the landing parties stormed across them. In order to keep in position an enormous head of pressure had to be maintained in the Daffodil’s boilers. This was a strenuous effort for her engineers, and it is even more remarkable when it is realised that the engine-room was holed at one point and two compartments flooded.

 Churton 1921 - 1939 - Luggage Boat

‘Luggage boats’ were a feature of the Woodside and Wallasey ferry services until 1941. They carried horses and carts and vans and lorries across the river and survived the opening of the road tunnel for seven years because horse-drawn vehicles (of which there were still lots about) were not allowed in the tunnel. On foggy days long queues of vehicles would form at Woodside. And at low tide the floating roadway at Woodside was often transformed into a steep hill. So powerful draught horses could be hired on the spot by carters to provide much-needed extra muscle-power for the pull up from the boat.

Tranmere

Pearl

Liscard

Wirral
An image but nothing found with information or dates

1922 saw the arrival of J Farley and Francis Storey which both spent 6 years on the Seacombe route before being transferred to New Brighton.

J Farley (left) and Francis Storey

1927-1930 is the date of this image of the Marlowe. Note: that after a life of only 18-20 years, the Liver Building is already black!
Image: national maritime museum http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/maritime/archive/stewartbale/waterfront/

Perch Rock joined the fleet in 1929.

The Royal Iris went on to Dublin in 1932, in 1939 moved to Cork and, in 1947, was renamed Blarney. Hardly seems fitting really, for such a famous boat.

In 1932 Royal Iris II. She had a third deck and upholstered seats. In 1947 the II was dropped and in 1950, was renamed St Hilary, and was then sold on in 1956.

1934. The Royal Daffodil was sold and was employed on cruises in Kent for a further 4 years. Royal Daffodil II was launched. In world war two, one of her duties was as tender to troopships. She would stand by, during raids, to take off troops in the event of a ship being hit.

Images: David Langton

On 8th May 1941, she was tied up at Seacombe and suffered a direct hit by a German bomb. Although damage was not extensive, she sank at her moorings. One casualty, an engine room worker was blown out of the engine room, minus his false teeth!! It took the Mersey Docks & Harbour board 13 months to lend Wallasey heavy equipment to raise her; minus funnel and mast, but inclusive of 300 tons of mud and silt. Marine growth had, in 13 months, covered the structure. Due to other vessels being on "active service", it was decided to repair and reinstate her in the fleet. On 2nd June 1943, she re-entered service. Quite a bit of her interior decor was not replaced until much later.

These active service boats were the J Farley and Francis Storey (image above). They were used to operate the anti submarine nets. The ferry crews impressed the Lords of The Admiralty to such an extent, they ordered that the crews remain with their boats, operating this important service.

In 1949, Wallasey Borough Council used an ex Torpedo Boat to ferry passengers across the river, mainly a night service. This was a so called economic measure to use on the late and night shifts but proved uneconomical so was laid up in 1950. However, I have had an email from a man who used this boat in 52-54???

Undated image of the ferry 'Wallasey' but before 1955, when she had a main mast fitted. 

Claughton Laid up in 1961 

Pearl - Eastham Ferry


Sapphire - Eastham Ferry




Tranmere Luggage Boat ended its service in 1925

Ferry 1930s. This is the Marlowe or the Wallasey - (Info Geoff Holmes)