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This website has no connection with any shipping company, cruise line, boat operator or other commercial organisation - There are no postcards for sale on this website
Fleetwood-Knott End Ferries
This page is devoted to postcards and photographs of Fleetwood-Knott End Ferries.
An alphabetical list of ships
shown on this page is shown below. Below this is a
Ships List
in alphabetical order.
The port of Fleetwood was developed from 1830, and early ferries which ran across the River Wyre were powered by oar and sail. In 1841, the Croft family organised a ferry service, running from the beaches on either side of the river. The first meeting to propose a steam Fleetwood-Knott End ferry service was held in 1851, but is was not until 1892 that the Fleetwood Improvement Commissioners reached agreement with the
Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway
to build a ferry jetty at Fleetwood. Agreement was then made with the local landowner to gain access at Knott End. The Ferry Committee of the Improvement Act District of Fleetwood (predecessors of the Fleetwood Urban District Council - UDC) assumed responsibility for the ferries in 1893, but leased the operation to local operators, initially Newsham & Myerscroft. In 1894, a steam launch
Nelson
was being used for the ferry. From 1895-98, the Croft family regained control of the ferries.
The Croft family again tendered for the service in 1898, but the decision was taken that the council should run its own ferries, and the steamer
Onward
, plus sailing vessels
Quail
and
Nymph
, were bought from the Crofts. However, members of the Croft family were subsequently appointed as Ferry Manager, Captain, engineer, deck hands and general assistant for the new concern.
Onward
could carry 117 passengers, and she was soon joined by the
Progress
, which could carry 140 passengers and was built locally by John Gibson. In July 1901, a further new addition was the
Bourne May
, also built by John Gibson.
Onward
was sold for use at Chatham.
In 1925 the famous
Wyresdale
arrived, which became the primary vessel for over thirty years. The smaller
Pilling
assisted with off-peak services.
Wyresdale
was 54 gross tons and 63 feet long, and steam reciprocating machinery powered twin screws. She was built by James Robertson of Fleetwood. In 1935 she was joined by the slightly smaller motor vessel
Lunevale
(62 feet long, 46 gross tons), and in 1941 the small
Caldervale
(30 feet, 23 gross tons) replaced the
Pilling
.
Wyresdale
suffered a tragic boiler explosion in 1957, and three people were killed. I believed her scrapped at the time, but some years later discovered her again at Glasson Dock. She had been used for excursions at Morecambe, fitted with new diesel engines.
In 1966, the ferry
Viking 66
was built by Charles Martin at Rockferry, and she maintained the service for many years. The council chartered local boats when she was not available. For a number of years,
Viking 66
was joined by the larger
Wyre Lady
, which had previously served on the River Clyde. By the mid-1980s,
Wyre Lady
had gone, and
Viking 66
was run by Bird's Sea Fishing, later CAS Birds and Bay Boating Company. Most of their boats were open fishing launches, but by 1995 they had the excursion vessel
Lady Victoria Belle
, which had a small cabin and upper deck. She operated trips on the river and along the coast. The Knott End ferry was generally operated by the
Wonder
at this period. The late 1990s and early 2000s were turbulent times for the ferry, with a succession of operators running the service (usually summer only), including Wyre Boat Survives, and Swift Offshore Services (with the
Wyre Princess
). The service was suspended in 2001, and the local excursion operators appear to have disappeared too. By 2003, the service had restarted with Wyre Waste Management, using the ferry
Harvester
. The service operated from April 7th to October 31st in 2004, with a half hourly service between 8am and 6pm. The service is funded by both Lancashire County Council and Wyre Borough Council. Discussions continued in 2004 on whether to upgrade the vessel and jetties for all-year service.
Wyre Lady
moved to Doncaster in the mid-1980s, where she remained in 2012:-
www.riverboatcruises.co.uk
Ships on This Page:-
Bay Queen
- Bird's Sea Fishing/Bay Boating Company
Bourne May
- Fleetwood UDC
Caldervale
- Fleetwood UDC
Harvester
- Wyre Waste Management
Lady Victoria Belle
- Bay Boating Company
Lunevale
- Fleetwood UDC
Onward
- Fleetwood UDC
Princess Anne
- Bird's Sea Fishing/Bay Boating Company
Progress
- Fleetwood UDC
Viking 66
- Fleetwood UDC
Wonder
- Bird's Sea Fishing/Bay Boating Company
Wyresdale
- Fleetwood UDC
Wyre Angler
- Bird's Sea Fishing/Bay Boating Company
Wyre Lady
- Fleetwood UDC
Wyre Rose
- Fleetwood UDC
North West Pages:-
Fleetwood Port & Ferries
Furness Railway
- Barrow-Fleetwood service with paddle steamers.
IOMSPCo
- Isle of Man Steam Packet Company.
Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway
- West Coast Services
L&NWSS
- Liverpool & North Wales Steamship Company
London Midland & Scottish Railway
- Heysham-Belfast Services
Midland Railway
- Heysham-Belfast & Heysham-Douglas Services
North West Excursion Ships
- Ships from the minor excursion fleets of the North West UK
Associated Pages:-
Ferry Postcards
Cruise Ship Postcards
Ocean Liner Postcards
Simplon Postcards Home Page
Search This Website:-
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Fleetwood-Knott End Ferries
Onward
(Fleetwood UDC: 1898-1901)
Progress
(Fleetwood UDC: 1900-19xx)
Bourne May
(Fleetwood UDC: 1901-19xx)
Onward
was bought from the Croft family in 1898 for the start of Fleetwood Council-run services.
Progress
and
Bourne May
arrived in 1900/1901, and
Onward
was then sold for further use in Chatham.
Progress
and
Bourne May
were replaced as the main ferry by the
Wyresdale
in 1925, but I do not know how long they were retained after this.
Postcard of the Fleetwood ferry jetty, with two steam ferries (
Bourne May
and
Progress
?).
Postcard of the Fleetwood ferry jetty, with two steam ferries (
Bourne May
and
Progress
?).
Postcard of
Bourne May
at Fleetwood ferry jetty at high tide, plus enlarged image.
Postcard of
Bourne May
at Fleetwood ferry jetty at high tide, plus enlarged image.
Postcard of Fleetwood from Knott End, with ferry (
Bourne May
?) and
IOMSPCo
steamer
Viking
at the Railway Pier.
Sankey postcard of Knott End slipway, with ferry (
Bourne May
?).
Photograph of
Bourne May
.
Wyresdale
(Fleetwood UDC: 1925-1957)
In 1925 the famous
Wyresdale
arrived, which became the primary vessel for over thirty years. The smaller
Pilling
assisted with off-peak services.
Wyresdale
was 54 gross tons and 63 feet long, and steam reciprocating machinery powered twin screws. She was built by James Robertson of Fleetwood. In 1935 she was joined by the slightly smaller motor vessel
Lunevale
(62 feet long, 46 gross tons), and in 1941 the small
Caldervale
(30 feet, 23 gross tons) replaced the
Pilling
.
Wyresdale
suffered a tragic boiler explosion in 1957, and three people were killed. I believed her scrapped at the time, but some years later discovered her again at Glasson Dock. She had been used for excursions at Morecambe, fitted with new diesel engines, and was in a gaudy blue and yellow livery.
Photographic postcard of
Wyresdale
.
Funnel appears to be buff with a black top, with no separating band.
Postcard of
Wyresdale
.
Funnel appears to have been lengthened since the image above.
In later years, the band between the buff funnel and black top was white, but it appears darker than the buff in this photograph.
Postcard of
Wyresdale
at Fleetwood, in post-war service.
The cream upperworks have been extended, much improving her appearance.
Frith postcard KTD33 of
Wyresdale
at Knott End, with the North Euston Hotel in the background.
This is one of the earliest postcards acquired for my collection, owned since the early 1950s.
Frith postcard KTD32 of
Wyresdale
at Knott End.
Postcard K.6726 of
Wyresdale
at Knott End.
Lunevale
(Fleetwood UDC: 1935-19xx)
In 1935,
Wyresdale
was joined by the slightly smaller motor vessel
Lunevale
(62 feet long, 46 gross tons). These were the two main ferries until the explosion on
Wyresdale
in 1957. After this,
Lunevale
maintained the service with the smaller
Caldervale
until the arrival of the
Viking 66
.
Lunevale
remained at Fleetwood in an increasingly derelict state for many years, but was eventually taken out and scuttled off Knott End, opposite the Wyre Light. She can be reached on foot at extremely low tides but you MUST know what you are doing.
Postcard of
Lunevale
at Fleetwood, with open bridge.
She also had the black hull carried up to rail level initially.
Raphael Tuck postcard of
Lunevale
at Knott End.
Note the distinctive, high-mounted navigation lights.
Postcard of
Lunevale
at Knott End, with wheelhouse.
She has received extended increased cream similar to
Wyresdale
.
Caldervale
(Fleetwood UDC: 1941-19xx)
In 1941 the small
Caldervale
(30 feet, 23 gross tons) replaced the
Pilling
, acting as reserve and off-peak vessel alongside
Wyresdale
and
Lunevale
. In later years,
Caldervale
seemed to run the service alone, until the arrival of
Viking 66
.
Frith postcard KTD57 of
Caldervale
at Knott End, with
IOMSPCo's
Manxman
at the Railway Pier.
Frith postcard KTD57 of
Caldervale
at Knott End, with
IOMSPCo's
Manxman
at the Railway Pier.
This is a badly coloured version of the photograph above.
Frith postcard KTD56 of
Caldervale
at Knott End, with
IOMSPCo's
Manxman
at the Railway Pier.
This is a part of the same sequence as KTD57 and KTD58, also shown. However, the publisher seemed to think that it lacked
sufficient interest, so they added a half-sized image of the
L&NWSSCo
's
St Tudno
- which is about to run aground on the
end of the Knott End jetty!
Frith postcard KTD58 of
Caldervale
at Knott End, with
IOMSPCo's
Manxman
at the Railway Pier.
Postcard of
Caldervale
at Knott End.
Viking 66
(Fleetwood UDC: 1966-19xx)
In 1966, the ferry
Viking 66
was built by Charles Martin at Rockferry, and she maintained the service for many years. The council chartered local boats when she was not available. For a number of years,
Viking 66
was joined by the larger
Wyre Lady
, which had previously served on the River Clyde. By the mid-1980s,
Wyre Lady
had gone, and
Viking 66
was run by Bird's Sea Fishing, later CAS Birds and Bay Boating Company. Most of their boats were open fishing launches,
Derek Cross writes:- After finishing work one evening I got to the Fleetwood Ferry Dock for the last boat of the day, which sailed at 5.20PM in winter. The tide was very low also. The skipper, who's name I cannot think of, wore brilliant white overalls and wore his captain's cap proudly. The steering, which was a very basic rig of chains within tubes that followed the line of the hull around to the stern, had failed, and the blackboard had the desperate news for about 4 of us passengers, that it was cancelled! We looked glum because of the prospect of the 2 hour bus journey to get home via Poulton.
The skipper came over to us apologising and telling us what the trouble was.......He must have felt sorry for us as we turned away to go to the bus stop, since he called us back and told us to get on board. He had decided that he was going to take us anyway in the steerless
Viking 66
(imagine the insurance claim if it had gone wrong!).
So he was last aboard and started her up, and he took us over gingerly with only the engines for steering. As a 16 year old I found this very exciting. I wish I could think of his name, he had great affection for his command and really was very proud of
Viking 66
. I was told he had all the builders drawings and had offered to take over the service when she was laid up at Fleetwood and for sale. I can understand his feelings for this very ordinary little ferry boat, I guess I am the same.
By the way.....the steering I mention here was the original single rudder as built. Later she was fitted with twin power assisted rudders. Funny how things come back, the chains made a horrendous noise as the skipper would go for full helm.
Postcard of
Viking 66
and
Wyre Lady
at Fleetwood.
Photograph of
Viking 66
at Fleetwood on a very high tide.
Photo: © Ian Boyle.
Photograph of
Viking 66
at Fleetwood.
Photo: © Ian Boyle.
Photograph of
Viking 66
at Fleetwood.
Photo: © Ian Boyle.
I assumed that the photograph below had been taken after Viking 66 had been stolen late at night by a love-sick drunk who wanted to visit his girlfriend in Ireland. He ran aground a few miles away, after the local lifeboat and a police helicopter were mustered. He made his own way ashore and was arrested. A more plausible explanation is given below. The
Princess Anne
was used on the ferry until
Viking 66
was repaired.
Derek Cross writes:-
I think the pictures of Viking 66 tied up and looking in a sorry state were taken in 1974, I was on my way to work (7.20am ferry) in Fleetwood when I looked across the Wyre on a slightly misty morning........to my surprise all I could see were the propellers of
Viking 66
. An attempted theft had gone badly wrong, and wedged the old ferry on the Fleetwood slip, as the tide went out she fell off the slip and ended upside down in the mud.
When the attempt to take her to Ireland failed, I think they found
Viking 66
circling Off North Pier with a drunken Irishman on board, trying to get home.
Whenever I would travel on the ferry I always sat looking into the engine room at the two Ford Diesels, the engine room doors where always open and you could see the water soaking into her constantly, the waterlogged planking could clearly be seen. If memory serves me right,
Viking 66
had just been re-engined when this disaster happened, she was then rebuilt and returned to service with the big cabin.
Chris Allen, of Chris Allen Ford, attempted to get together with local business men to buy
Viking 66
in the early 1990s, this attempt failed and she ended up being trucked down to Plymouth as a pleasure craft, I wonder if she is still around. The plan was to get her to Preesall Mill and have like a local museum at the mill complex with
Viking 66
as a major attraction. I think she was sold in the end for 3300 pounds. I did a walk round of
Viking 66
in Wyre Dock just before she went south, she was in a sorry state, but I have such great memories of her
Photograph of
Viking 66
at Fleetwood after being stolen.
Photo: © Ian Boyle.
Photo: © Ian Boyle.
Photograph of
Viking 66
whilst managed by Bay Boating Company, rebuilt with a larger wheelhouse and painted in their blue/red colours.
Photo: © Ian Boyle.
Wyre Lady
(Fleetwood UDC: 19xx-19xx)
The
Wyre Lady
is a large, impressive vessel built in 1938 by Denny’s of Dumbarton as the
Ashton
for operation as a railway passenger ferry on the River Clyde. She was particularly well known on the Largs to Millport run. During the Second World War she was a naval tender and often serviced the
Queen Mary
and the
Queen Elizabeth
in their roles as troop ships.
In 1971
Wyre Lady
went to Fleetwood to be the Knott End Ferry, across the River Wyre, where she acquired her present name. In 1975 she began a short unsuccessful career on the River Severn. From there she was brought, in the spring of 1978, to the South Yorkshire,
, where she remained in 2012 -
www.riverboatcruises.co.uk
Derek Cross writes:-
Wyre Lady
was a disaster, I travelled on her numerous times but the crew would moan on her lack of power, she was totally unsuited to the Wyre, with its strong current. I seem to recall that
Wyre Lady
had a plaque saying she was at Dunkirk.
Wyre Lady Web Page:-
www.riverboatcruises.co.uk
Postcard of
Viking 66
and
Wyre Lady
at Fleetwood.
Wyre Lady
seemed to spend most of her Lancashire career tied to this berth.
Photograph of
Viking 66
and
Wyre Lady
at Fleetwood.
Wyre Lady
is still looking pristine at this stage.
Photo: © Ian Boyle.
Photograph of
Wyre Lady
at Fleetwood.
Photo: © Ian Boyle.
Photograph of
Wyre Lady
at Fleetwood.
Photo: © Ian Boyle.
Photograph of
Viking 66
and
Wyre Lady
at Fleetwood.
Photo: © Ian Boyle.
Photograph of
Wyre Lady
at Fleetwood.
Disembarkation was not easy for the elderly at low tide.
Photo: © Ian Boyle.
Wyre Lady at Doncaster -
www.riverboatcruises.co.uk
Photo: © Ian Boyle 15th May 2010 - all images link to larger copies
Princess Anne
(Bird's Sea Fishing/Bay Boating)
Bay Queen
(Bird's Sea Fishing/Bay Boating)
Wyre Angler
(Bird's Sea Fishing/Bay Boating)
By the mid-1980s,
Wyre Lady
had gone, and
Viking 66
was run by Bird's Sea Fishing, later CAS Birds and Bay Boating Company. Most of their boats were open fishing launches, such as the
Princess Anne
(illustrated - which regularly deputised for
Viking 66
),
Bay Queen
and
Wyre Angler
. By the mid-1990s the Knott End ferry was generally operated by the
Wonder
.
Photograph of
Princess Anne
arriving at Knott End.
Photo: © Ian Boyle.
Photograph of
Princess Anne
at Knott End.
Photo: © Ian Boyle.