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River Wear Ferries & Excursions
 
This page is under construction
 
This page is devoted to postcards and photographs of River Wear ferries, and particularly the River WearFerry which ran in the early 1990s from Panns Bank, Sunderland, using the vessel Wear Ferry.
 
The River Wear was crossed at various fords in medieval times. By 1700, these had disappeared and various ferries were provided. There was one in Sunderland itself, plus others at Pallion and Hylton further upstream. The only bridge downstream from Durham was New Bridge, below Lambton Castle, and so the Sunderland ferry, closest to the mouth of the Wear, remained of great importance to the town. Two further ferries, one From Southwick to Deptford, and the Panns Ferry, started in 18th century. This ferry was close to where the 1990s excursions began, and was the shortest-lived ferry service, made redundant by the nearby Wearmouth Bridge, and ceased in 1796. Other ferries remained in Sunderland, initially run by the bridge trustees. A paddle steamer, the Mab, started service in 1843, by which time they were run by Sunderland Corporation. The ferries ceased in July 1957, the last being the W.F.Vint of 1926.
 
The River Wear Ferry Brochure below mentions a 19th century service operated by the (presumably ex-Norfolk) vessel City of Norwich. I have no information about this vessl yet. The most recent Wear Ferry service began in the early 1990s using another ex-Norfolk vessel, but it finished by 1995.
 
In the 1980s the small motor launch Dunelm II was running cruises in Durham City. In 1989, Durham River Cruises (who may also have run the Dunelm II) began operating the Prince Bishop (1989 - 65ft -150 pass) in Durham City.
 
 
Boats on this Page:-
Wear Ferry - River Wear Ferry 1990?-1995?
City of Norwich - 19th century River Wear vessel - to be added
Dunelm II - Durham River Cruises
Prince Bishop - Durham River Cruises - to be added
 
Sections on this Page:-
Rive Wear Ferry
River Wear Ferry 1991 Brochure
Durham River Cruises
 
Brochure Archive:-
River Wear Ferry 1991 Brochure - June/July 1991 - 1.3MB Adobe PDF file
 
Associated Pages:-
UK Excursion Ships
Ferry Postcards
Cruise Ship Postcards
Ocean Liner Postcards
Simplon Postcards - Recent Updates
Simplon Postcards - Home Page
 
References:-
Robert Forsythe - transport and industrial heritage consultant
Sunderland Ferries - Gillian Cookson - www.englandspastforeveryone.org.uk
Trip Out Guides - Written and published by G.P.Hamer - various editions from 1977 to 2005 consulted
Trip Out Guides are available from Geoffrey Hamer, PO Box 485, Southall, UB1 9BH
 
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River Wear Ferry
 
The Wear Ferry ran in the early 1990s from Panns Bank, Sunderland.
 
 
Wear Ferry at Panns Bank landing 24.8.92
Photo: © 1992 Robert Forsythe
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Wear Ferry at Panns Bank landing 24.8.92
Photo: © 1992 Robert Forsythe
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River Wear Ferry Brochure
June/July 1991
 
The Wear Ferry ran in the early 1990s from Panns Bank, Sunderland. the brochure below is also available in PDF Format:- River Wear Ferry 1991 Brochure
 
 
Wear Ferry 1991 Brochure - Page 1
Scan: Robert Forsythe
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Wear Ferry 1991 Brochure - Page 2
Scan: Robert Forsythe
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Durham River Cruises
 
Dunelm II (Built: 1934)
 
Dunelm II was operating at Durham in the early 1980s. I do not know if it was the same owners who built Prince Bishop in 1989.
 
 
Dunelm II at Durham 29th July 1983
Photo: © 1983 Robert Forsythe
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Dunelm II at Durham 30th July 1983
Photo: © 1983 Robert Forsythe
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Prince Bishop (1989)
 
Prince Bishop was built in 1989 for Durham River Cruises and operates one hour sightseeing cruises in summer, plus lunch cruises, charters and various evening cruises. Please see:- www.princebishoprc.co.uk
 
to be added
 
 
 
 
 
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