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Millbrook Steamboat Company
Millbrook Steamboat and Trading Company Ltd
1885-1985
This page covers the history of the Millbrook Steam Boat & Trading Company, which traces its origins back to 1885 when John Parson bought the steamer
Millbrook
, for services across the River Tamar from Plymouth to Millbrook. The Millbrook fleet remained independent until 1980, when it was bought by
Dart Pleasure Craft
, who had replaced the equally historic
River Dart Steamboat Company
in the mid-1970s.
Dart Pleasure Craft
then effectively had a monopoly in both the River Dart and Plymouth areas, but aggressive new competition led to their abandonment of the Plymouth area in 1985, concentrating solely on their River Dart operations.
Brief History of the Millbrook Steam Boat & Trading Company:-
Millbrook is in Cornwall, separated from the naval city of Plymouth (in Devon) by the River Tamar. The stretch of the River Tamar dividing Devon and Cornwall at this point is known as the Hamoaze. John Parson of Millbrook acquired the steamer
Millbrook
, a wooden paddle steamer, in 1885, and ran her from Millbrook Lake to North Corner on the Plymouth side, moving to the Plymouth terminus to the new Mutton Cove pier in 1891. In Millbrook Lake
Millbrook
would land at Millbrook itself at high tide, or nearby Anderton on lower tides. On the lowest tides the steamer could only reach Southdown at the entrance to Millbrook Lake, about a mile walk from Millbrook town.
Millbrook
was joined by the twin screw steamers
Iolanthe
in 1887, and the
Lady of the Lake
in 1890. John Parson operated the Millbrook ferry, plus occasional excursions, until January 1892 when he joined with William Gilbert of Saltash, who owned eight steamers, to form the Saltash, Three Towns & District Steamboat Company (STT&DSCo), which then virtually monopolised the passenger steamer services of the River Tamar. John Parson soon became disenchanted with the new company, and in September 1894 he bought the Mutton Cove to Cremyll ferry service along with its ship the
Despatch,
from the Oreston & Turnchapel Steamboat Company (O&TSCo). He extended the service to Millbrook Lake, placing the
Despatch
in direct competition with the new purpose built paddler
Lady Ernestine
of the STT&DSCo, of which he was still a major shareholder. John Parson's Millbrook Steamboat Company engaged in a damaging price war with the STT&DSCo for 15 years, which did not end until a compromise was reached in 1911, with the Saltash Company agreeing to discontinue operations to Millbrook Lake.
The John Parson's Millbrook fleet in 1914 was:-
Cornubia, Devonia, Britannia, Hibernia
and
Brunel
.
During the First War, the Millbrook fleet was reduced to just the
Devonia
and
Britannia
by 1916. The
Devonia
also appears to have been withdrawn around this time, leaving the
Britannia
so continue the service alone.
Brunel
ended up Basra (modern Iraq), and never returned to the UK.
Cornubia's
boiler was reused but the steamer never saw service again, after serving in Devonport Dockyard through the war.
Hibernia
was the sole requisitioned she to return, after service in Scapa Flow, re-entering excursion service in 1921. She continued until 1927, leaving only the
Britannia
again.
Hibernia
was replaced on excursions by the small motor vessel
Manna
, and the launches
Princess Mary
and
Queen
assisted
Britannia
on the ferry. Up until this point, the Millbrook Steamboat Company had been owned by John Parson alone, and it was not a limited company. In 1929, it was finally incorporated as the Millbrook Steamboat & Trading Company Ltd. Shares were owned by just John Parson and Frank Pearson, and William T.Crawford was appointed as manager. The first acquisition of the new Millbrook Steam Boat & Trading Company was the
Lady Elizabeth.
Frederick Skinner began operating motor buses around the Rame Peninsular at this time. The the Millbrook Steam Boat & Trading Company acquired some Crossley buses to set up their own services. Skinner's services were later acquired by the Millbrook Steam Boat & Trading Company in 1950. In 1932 Millbrook acquired the paddler
Kenwith Castle
from Bill Worth, to run a combined steamer and bus service to Whitsands. The
Kenwith Castle
was renamed
Whitsand Castle
but she was sold after only two seasons work. She was replaced in the fleet by the new
Western Belle
, although she was primarily used on the ferry.
Western Belle
was built by Fellows of Great Yarmouth, and is still in service with Dart Pleasure Craft.
The 1939 Millbrook fleet consisted of:-
Devon Belle, Western Belle, Britannia, Southern Belle, Lady Elizabeth, Princess Mary
and
New Queen.
The Cremyll ferry had been operated by the Earls of Mount Edgcumbe. When the line of descent ceased with the death of the fifth Earl in 1944, the ferry passed to the Millbrook Steam Boat & Trading Company (who had been operating it for year anyway).
After the Second War, the Millbrook Steam Boat & Trading Company received new investment when new directors Sidney Mashford (of Mashfords Shipyard) and William Crawford joined the directors. The Cremyll ferries at this time were the
Armadillo (2)
and
Shuttlecock (2)
, both steam powered. They were dieselised by the Millbrook Steam Boat & Trading Company in 1946/7 and 1945 respectively. Mashfords rebuilt the
Shuttlecock
as the
Southern Belle
in 1945/46, and the
Armadillo
became the
Northern Belle
. The three vessels of director Les Worth, the
White Heather, Endeavour
and
Guiding Star
, joined the fleet in 1947. They were mainly used on the Cawsand Run.
The 1947 Millbrook fleet consisted of:-
Devon Belle, Western Belle, Tamar Belle, Southern Belle, Northern Belle, Lady Elizabeth, White Heather, Endeavour
and
Guiding Star.
In July 1950, the stage services and bus fleet of Skinners of Millbrook were acquired, giving the Millbrook Steam Boat & Trading Company a monopoly of services on the Rame Peninsular. The services were later sold to Western National. William James Crawford Managing Director in 1953, with Sidney Mashford as Chairman. Donald and Derek Crawford also became directors.
White Heather
was sold to Torquay owners in 1953, and
Lady Elizabeth
was chartered to British Railways for the Kingswear ferry from 1955-57
.
In May 1957,
the May Queen
was bought and renamed
Eastern Belle.
The
Tamar Belle
,
Endeavour
and
Guiding Star
were sold in 1959, 1960 and 1962. Mashfords built the new motor vessel
Plymouth Belle
in 1961. The 1950s and 1960s were profitable times for the Millbrook Steam Boat & Trading Company, who were then operating ferries to from Plymouth to Cremyll, Millbrook and Cawsand, plus they were the major Plymouth excursion operator, and also ran the Rame Peninsular bus services.
Western Belle
ran trips to Yealm Calstock and Looe.
Devon Belle, Western Belle
and
Southern Belle
ran the Dockyard trips, and also visited Calstock.
The 1970 Millbrook fleet consisted of:-
Devon Belle, Western Belle, Southern Belle, Northern Belle, Lady Elizabeth, Eastern Belle
and
Plymouth Belle.
In 1975, the Millbrook Steam Boat & Trading Company bought the large
Dartmouth Castle (3)
from the ailing
River Dart Steamboat Company
. They sold her back to
Dart Pleasure Craft
the following year, who effectively succeeded the
River Dart Steamboat Company
on River Dart services. In 1977, the Millbrook Steam Boat & Trading Company bought the
Cardiff Castle
also from the
River Dart Steamboat Company
. In 1980, the directors of the Millbrook SB Co (Derek Crawford, Les Worth and Sidney Mashford) sold their shares to
Dart Pleasure Craft
who then ran both Dart and Plymouth services. The fleets were initially run a separate entities, although vessel exchanges were common.
Sidney Mashford then designed and built the boat
Plymouth Venturer
for new rival Plymouth Boat Cruises, who initiated a fares war with
Dart Pleasure Craft
.
Plymouth Venturer
entered service in 1982, a year after Plymouth Boat Cruises was formed with the
Plymouth Princess
.
Dart Pleasure Craft
then pulled out of Plymouth area services in 1985, concentrating on their Dart services.
Dart Pleasure Craft
retained
Western Belle
,
Cardiff Castle
,
Plymouth Belle
,
Edgcumbe Belle
and
Dartmouth Castle
.
Southern Belle
and
Eastern Belle
went to rivals Plymouth Boat Cruises, whilst
Northern Belle
and
Queen Boadicea II
and the Cremyll service went to Tamar Cruising & Cremyll Ferry (TC&CF), owned by John Knight, a former Cremyll Ferry skipper.
Ships on this Page (
to be completed
):-
Britannia (Millbrook: 1900-1939)
Brunel (Millbrook: 1910-1916)
Cardiff Castle
(Millbrook: 1977-1985)
Cornubia (Millbrook: 186?-1914)
Dartmouth Castle
(Millbrook: 1975-1976)
Despatch (Millbrook: 1895-????)
Devon Belle
(Millbrook: 1936-1979) - ex-
Manna
Devonia (Millbrook: 1897-1916)
Eastern Belle
(Millbrook: 1957-1985)
Edgcumbe Belle
(Millbrook: 1980-1985)
Hibernia (Millbrook: 1904-1928)
Lady of the Lake (Millbrook: 1895-????)
Manna
(Millbrook: 1927-1936) - later
Devon Belle
Northern Belle
(Millbrook: 1945-1985)
Plymouth Belle
(Millbrook: 1961-1985 )
Southern Belle
(Millbrook: 1945-1985)
Tamar Belle (Millbrook: 1935-1959)
Western Belle
(Millbrook: 1935-1985)
Associated Pages:-
Devon Excursion Ships
- Devon Header Page
Dart Pleasure Craft
River Dart SB Co
Riddall's Boats
Plymouth Boat Cruises
Sound Cruising
Tamar Cruising & Cremyll Ferry Co
Ferry Postcards
Cruise Ship Postcards
Ocean Liner Postcards
Simplon Postcards Home Page
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References:-
Passenger Steamers of the River Tamar
- Alan Kittridge - Twelveheads Press 1984
Steamers & Ferries of the River Tamar & Three Towns District
- Alan Kittridge - Twelveheads Press 2003
Passenger Steamers of the River Dart
- Richard Clammer & Alan Kittridge - Twelveheads Press 1987
Trip Out Guides
- Written and published by G.P.Hamer - various editions from 1977 to 2005 consulted
Thanks to Graham Thorne for assistence with this page
Table of Ship Histories
Name
Other names
Built
Dartmouth Castle (3)
1948
Southern Belle
Shuttlecock
1925
Western Belle
1935
Millbrook Fleet List
Millbrook Steamboat and Trading Company Ltd
(
To Be Completed
)
Devon Belle
(Millbrook SB & Trading Co:1927-1979)
Devon Belle
on was built in Berlin as the
Maria
in 1922 and by 1926 was at Great Yarmouth as the
Manna
. She was acquired by Millbrook in 1927 and renamed
Devon Belle
, the first of their '
Belles
'. She then had a spell at Falmouth with George Pill until 1987 and was at Southsea, illustrated below, until 1991. She then went to Poole as
Maid of Brownsea
and was reported in TRIP OUT as laid up there in 1993. I have nothing after that.
Devon Belle
in service with the Millbrook Company at Cremyll
The larger image also shows
Northern Belle
astern. It looks be just post World War 2.
Photo: © Luke Farley
Click to open larger image in new window
Devon Belle
in service with the Millbrook Company at Cremyll -
Southern Belle
in background
Publisher: George F W Ellis Ltd (Bodmin)
Click to open larger image in new window
Photograph of
Devon Belle
on Portsmouth-Spitbank Fort service in 1987.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 1987.
Western Belle
(Millbrook SB & Trading Co: 1935-1985)
The
Whitsand Castle
(ex-
Kenwith Castle
) was replaced in the fleet by the new
Western Belle
in 1935.
Western Belle
was primarily used on the ferry in her early years, though mainly ran the Dockyard trips in later, along with
Devon Belle
and
Eastern Belle
.
Western Belle
was built by Fellows of Great Yarmouth.
Western Belle
passed to
Dart Pleasure Craft
in 1980, and was transferred to the Dartmouth-Kingswear ferry. She was sold to the Thames in 2000, operating from 2005 for Chris Cruises on charters from Hampton Court.
Western Belle
was sold again in 2008, and travelled to Maryport for restoration. It is planned that she will eventually operate on Ullswater.
Complete history of Western Belle
Official Millbrook Steam Boat & Trading Company postcard of
Western Belle
.
Original saloon windows and funnel.
Official Millbrook Steam Boat & Trading Company postcard of
Western Belle
.
Later saloon windows and funnel.
Click to open larger image in new window
Official Millbrook Steam Boat & Trading Company postcard of
Western Belle
.
Photograph of
Western Belle
on the River Dart at Kingswear, working the Dartmouth-Kingswear ferry.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 1997.
Photograph of
Western Belle
on the River Dart, working the Dartmouth-Kingswear ferry.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 1997.
Southern Belle
(Millbrook SB & Trading Co: 1945-1985)
The Cremyll ferry had been operated by the Earls of Mount Edgcumbe since 1885. When the line of descent ceased with the death of the fifth Earl in 1944, the ferry passed to the Millbrook Steam Boat & Trading Company (who had been operating it for year anyway).
After the Second War, the Millbrook Steam Boat & Trading Company received new investment when new directors Sidney Mashford (of Mashfords Shipyard) and William Crawford joined the directors. The Cremyll ferries at this time were the
Armadillo (2)
and
Shuttlecock (2)
, both steam powered and built in 1926 and 1925 respectively. They were dieselised by the Millbrook Steam Boat & Trading Company in 1946/7 and 1945 respectively. Mashfords rebuilt the
Shuttlecock
as the
Southern Belle
in 1945/46, and the
Armadillo
became the
Northern Belle
.
Southern Belle
was used on the Dockyard trips after the war, and passed to
Dart Pleasure Craft
in 1980. When
Dart Pleasure Craft
ceased their Plymouth services in 1985,
Southern Belle
was acquired by Plymouth Boat Cruises. They sold her in 2000 to the Isle of Wight Pleasure Boat Co, but she passed on again in 2003 to Steve 'Tug' Wilson who began restoration.
In 2006, the restored
Southern Belle
began services from Great Yarmouth (adjacent to the Haven Bridge near the Town Hall), owned by Steve 'Tug' Wilson. The name Yarmouth & Gorleston SP Co has been revived, although this does not appear on the brochure. Contact: 07906 020225 for details.
Complete history of Southern Belle
Postcard of
Southern Belle.
Postcard of
Southern Belle.
Click to open larger image in new window
Southern Belle
in later
Millbrook Steamboat & Trading Company
service
Mashford's yard in the background is where she was built when it was Rogers.
Totnes Castle (3)
can also be seen in the background - Photo: © Luke Farley
Click to open larger image in new window
Southern Belle
in later
Millbrook Steamboat & Trading Company
service
Photo: © Luke Farley
Postcard of
Southern Belle,
with
Plymouth Venturer
of rival Plymouth Boat Cruises, who acquired
Southern Belle
in 1985.
Postcard of
Southern Belle,
with
Plymouth Venturer
of rival Plymouth Boat Cruises behind the pier.
Totnes Castle (3)
, (ex-
Berry Castle (3)
) on the right
Northern Belle
(Millbrook SB & Trading Co: 1945-1985)
The Cremyll ferry had been operated by the Earls of mount Edgcumbe. When the line of descent ceased with the death of the fifth Earl in 1944, the ferry passed to the Millbrook Steam Boat & Trading Company (who been operating it for year anyway). After the Second War, the Millbrook Steam Boat & Trading Company received new investment when new directors Sidney Mashford (of Mashfords Shipyard) and William Crawford joined the directors. The Cremyll ferries at this time were the
Armadillo
and
Shuttlecock
, both steam powered. They were dieselised by the Millbrook Steam Boat & Trading Company in 1946/7 and 1945 respectively. Mashfords rebuilt the
Shuttlecock
as the
Southern Belle
in 1945/46, and the
Armadillo
became the
Northern Belle
. In 1985,
Northern Belle
and
Queen Boadicea II
and the Cremyll service went to Tamar Cruising & Cremyll Ferry (TC&CF), owned by John Knight, a former Cremyll Ferry skipper.
Northern Belle
in service with the Millbrook Company at Cremyll
The larger image also shows
Devon Belle
to the left. It looks be just post World War 2.
Photo: © Luke Farley
Click to open larger image in new window
Postcard of
Northern Belle.
Unlike her sister
Southern Belle
,
Northern Belle
was not given an upper passenger deck.
Eastern Belle
(Millbrook SB & Trading Co: 1957-1985)
In May 1957,
the May Queen
was bought by the Millbrook Steam Boat & Trading Company and renamed
Eastern Belle.
She passed to
Dart Pleasure Craft
in 1980, and then to Plymouth Boat Cruises in 1985 when
Dart Pleasure Craft
pulled out of Plymouth services. Plymouth Boat Cruises soon sold the
Eastern Belle
to
G H Ridalls & Sons
at Dartmouth. She became their
Totnes Princess
and remained on the Dart until 1999. Since 2001 she has run in the Isle of Man for Captain Stephen Carter's Laxey Towing Company bearing the traditional Manx name
Karina
.
Postcard of
Eastern Belle.
Plymouth Belle
(Millbrook SB & Trading Co: 1961-1985)
Mashfords built the new motor vessel
Plymouth Belle
for the Millbrook Steam Boat & Trading Company in 1961. She passed to
Dart Pleasure Craft
in 1980, and was later transferred to the River Dart.
Plymouth Belle
at Plymouth.
Click to open larger image in new window
Plymouth Belle
on the River Dart.
Photo: © Graham Thorne, September 1990
Click to open larger image in new window
Plymouth Belle
on the River Dart.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 1997.
Cardiff Castle
(Millbrook SB & Trading Co: 1977-1985)
The River Dart SB Co paddler
Totnes Castle (2)
required major expenditure in 1964. This expense was rejected and she was replaced by the new
Cardiff Castle,
a sister to
Conway Castle
. When services ceased at the end of 1974,
Cardiff Castle
was initially laid up. In 1977 she was sold to replace the
Dartmouth Castle (3)
in the
Millbrook Steamboat & Trading Company
fleet. In 1980,
Dart Pleasure Craft
took over the
Millbrook Steamboat & Trading Company
.
Cardiff Castle
in Dart Pleasure Craft service, with large saloon.
Dartmouth Castle (3)
(River Dart SB Co: 1948-1975)
(Millbrook SB & Trading Co: 1975-1976)
(Dart Pleasure Craft: 1976- )
In 1948, the
Dartmouth Castle (3)
replaced the the paddle steamer
Dartmouth Castle (2)
of the
River Dart Steamboat Company
, which had been laid up during the war, and was then sold in 1947.
Dartmouth Castle (3)
was followed by the similar
Berry Castle (3)
the following year, both from Philip of Dartmouth. In 1975, the Millbrook Steam Boat & Trading Company bought the large
Dartmouth Castle (3)
from the ailing
River Dart Steamboat Company
. They sold her back to
Dart Pleasure Craft
the following year, who effectively succeeded the
River Dart Steamboat Company
on River Dart services. In 1977, the Millbrook Steam Boat & Trading Company bought the
Cardiff Castle
also from the
River Dart Steamboat Company
. In 1980, the directors of the Millbrook SB Co (Derek Crawford, Les Worth and Sidney Mashford) sold their shares to
Dart Pleasure Craft
who then ran both Dart and Plymouth services.
In 2007, Mike Barrow of
Devon Princess Cruises
ran the
Dartmouth Castle
on cruises from Exmouth and Torbay. For cruise details contact:-
www.avocetcruises.co.uk
.
More images of Dartmouth Castle
Dartmouth Castle
in service at Plymouth
Photo: © Luke Farley
Dartmouth Castle
in service at Plymouth, off Fort Pickelcombe in rough weather
Photo: © Luke Farley
Dartmouth Castle
in service at Plymouth, off Fort Pickelcombe in rough weather
Photo: © Luke Farley
Dartmouth Castle
in Dart Pleasure Craft service on the River Dart, on a Totnes-Dartmouth trip.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 1997.
Photograph of
Dartmouth Castle
on the River Dart, on a Totnes-Dartmouth trip.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 1997.
Photograph of
Dartmouth Castle
on the River Dart, on a Totnes-Dartmouth trip.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 1997.
Photograph of
Dartmouth Castle
on the River Dart, on a Totnes-Dartmouth trip.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 1997.