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The city of York, then named Eboracum,
was founded by the Romans in 71AD at the confluence of the
Rivers Ouse and Foss. The Ouse then continues, joining the Trent
before flowing into the Humber Estuary. Eboracum became the
capital of the Roman Province of Britannia Inferior. Following
the Roman withdrawal in 415AD, York became the capital of
Northumbria for the Angles, then known as Eoforwic. The Angles
were followed by the Vikings in 866AD, and their name Jorvic
evolved into the current title. Jorvic became the capital of a
much larger area of Northern England, and remained important in
the Norman and later periods. For many years it was the third
largest port in England, following London and Bristol.
Commercial traffic finally ceased in the 1990s. Excursion and
passenger steamers have run on the Ouse from the early days of
steamboats and their current successors are run by
YorkBoat in 2010.
This page shows some postcards and photos of earlier passenger
vessels. Before WW1 there was an interesting steamboat named
River King (1) running from York. I am seeking more information on services before the
1970s, and additional images from all periods. Details below
covering services since 1970 have been derived from Trip Out
Guides and issues of
Cruising Monthly (the newsletter of the
Coastal Cruising Association).
To travel on YorkBoat services see:-
www.yorkboat.co.uk
York Excursion Boats Since 1970
In the 1970s the main operator
in York was Hill's Boatyard, who ran the attractive small
launches (52-73 passengers) Princess Elizabeth, Princess
Katherine, Princess Margaret (1936), Princess Mary
(1919) and Princess Royal (1923) from Lendal Bridge and
King's Staithe (the same piers as used today by
YorkBoat). Cruises
either ran to Bishopthorpe or were shorter local circulars. They
were joined by the new Duke of York (127 passengers) in
1977. A sister vessel Duchess of York (1) arrived the
following year. The Ashanti Gold (1974 - 40 pass) of
Ashanti Cruises also ran cruises in York at this time. By 1981
the only surviving older launch in the Hill's fleet was
Princess Margaret, but she had been replaced by the
Countess of York (1970 -118 pass, previously Abingdon
Belle) by 1985. Competition arrived with the White Rose
Line who ran the River King (2) (1979 - 100 pass) and
River Queen (1983 - 105 pass). They also acquired the
Ashanti Gold. In 1988 York Marine Services started using
the Duchess (1924) and the Princess Elizabeth
(1932). In 1989 a further company Castle Line Cruisers started
York trips, using the Empress (1932 - 45 pass). She was
soon joined by the Belle (1922 - 40 pass, previously
the Duke of Edinburgh).
Ashanti Gold was disposed of by
White Rose Line and later worked at Wakefield, the Lancaster
Canal and on the Kennet & Avon Navigation. Ashanti Gold
was replaced by River Palace (1990 - 218 pass) in the
White Rose Line's fleet in 1990. White Rose Line also acquired
the vessels and the Lendal Bridge yard of Hill's Boatyard,
Duchess of York (1) becoming River Duchess,
Countess of York becoming River Countess and
Duke of York becoming River Prince (1), forming a
combined fleet of six vessels. The Star (1945 - 70
pass, previously Marina II) joined Castle Line for
1993. York Marine Services acquired the new Pride of York
(1994 - 190 pass) the following year.
White Rose Line fleet 1993 -
River Countess (1970), River Duchess
(1978), River King (2) (1979), River Palace
(1990), River Prince (1) (1977), River Queen
(1983)
For 1997, The Belle and The Star of Castle
Line joined a short-lived operator Star Line Cruises. Castle
Line acquired the Duchess of York (2) (183 - 85 pass,
previously Jonas Fosbrooke). White Rose disposed of
River Prince (1) and later acquired the Captain James
Cook (1975 - 130 pass) which had been based in Doncaster.
York Marine services disposed of their older vessels
Princess Elizabeth
and
Duchess,
retained just the recent Pride of York.
White Rose Line fleet 1999 -
Captain James Cook (1975), River
Countess (1970), River Duchess (1978), River
King (2) (1979), River Palace (1990), River Queen
(1983)
By 2001 Pride of York had passed to White Rose as Prince
William, and White Rose also became known as
YorkBoat.
YorkBoat
vessels
River King (2) moved to Shrewsbury in 2001 and
River Queen was sold in 2002.
YorkBoat fleet 2001 -
Captain James Cook (1975), Prince
William (1994) River Countess (1970), River
Duchess (1978), River Palace (1990), River
Queen (1983)
By 2003, Duchess of
York (2) was running for Yorkcruise, later trading as
Waterline Cruise & Dine. For 2005, YorkBoat's Prince William had been renamed River
Prince (2), and Waterline Cruise & Dine had acquired
River King (3) (1981 - 128 pass). The latter company ceased
trading in 2008, For 2007, River Countess passed to
sister company ChesterBoat as The Jackie.
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