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Southern Belle
Shuttlecock - Southern Belle
 
Page 1:- Southern Belle History
 
 
This page is covers the history of the Plymouth ferry Shuttlecock (2), later the excursion boat Southern Belle. She restarted sailing from Great Yarmouth in 2006, and Southern Belle Page 2 gives more coverage of this period.
 
The Cremyll ferry across the Hamoaze at Plymouth had been operated by the estate of the Earls of Mount Edgcumbe since 1885, initially with the ferry Dodo. Dodo was joined by the wooden steamers Armadillo (1) and Shuttlecock (1) in 1887. The Carrier joined the fleet in 1889. Armadillo (1) and Shuttlecock (1) were replaced by Armadillo (2) and Shuttlecock (2) in 1926 and 1925 respectively, both 66 feet long and built by Rogers of Cremyll.
 
When the line of descent ceased with the death of the fifth Earl in 1944, the ferry passed to the Millbrook Steamboat & Trading Company (who had been operating it for a year anyway). Armadillo (2) and Shuttlecock (2) were dieselised by the Millbrook 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, who also used her on the River Dart. 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. See www.southernbelle.co.uk for cruise details.
 
 
Contact: 07906 020225 - www.southernbelle.co.uk
 
Southern Belle Pages:-
Southern Belle Page 1 - complete history - this page!
Southern Belle Page 2 - service in Norfolk
 
Sections on this Page:-
Shuttlecock (2) - Mount Edgcumbe Estate: 1925-1945
Southern Belle - Millbrook SB Co: 1945-1980
Southern Belle - Dart Pleasurecraft: 1980-1985
Southern Belle - Plymouth Boat Cruises: 1985-2000
Southern Belle - Yarmouth & Gorleston SP Co: 2006-
 
Brochure Archive:-
2008 Brochure - 3.7MB .pdf File (requires Adobe Reader)
2007 Brochure - 0.4MB .pdf File (requires Adobe Reader)
 
Associated Pages:-
Dart Pleasure Craft
Millbrook Steamboat Company
UK Excursion Ships
Ferry Postcards
Cruise Ship Postcards
Ocean Liner Postcards
Simplon Postcards - Recent Updates
Simplon Postcards - Home Page
 
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
 
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Shuttlecock (2)
(Mount Edgcumbe Estate: 1925-1945)
 
The Cremyll ferry across the Hamoaze at Plymouth had been operated by the estate of the Earls of Mount Edgcumbe since 1885, initially with the ferry Dodo. She was joined by the wooden steamers Armadillo (1) and Shuttlecock (1) in 1887. The Carrier joined the fleet in 1889. Armadillo (1) and Shuttlecock (1) were replaced by Armadillo (2) and Shuttlecock (2) in 1928 and 1929 respectively, 66 feet long and built by Rogers of Cremyll.
 
When the line of descent ceased with the death of the fifth Earl in 1944, the ferry passed to the Millbrook Steamboat & Trading Company (who had been operating it for a year anyway).
 
 
Armadillo (2) at Plymouth as a steam ferry - Shuttlecock (2) was very similar.
Photo: Alan Kittridge Collection
 
 
 
 
 
 
Southern Belle
(Millbrook Steamboat & Trading Co: 1945-1980)
(Dart Pleasurecraft: 1980-1985)
(Plymouth Boat Cruises: 1985-2000)
 
The Cremyll ferry across the Hamoaze at Plymouth had been operated by the estate of the Earls of Mount Edgcumbe since 1885, initially with the ferry Dodo. She was joined by the wooden steamers Armadillo (1) and Shuttlecock (1) in 1887. The Carrier joined the fleet in 1889. Armadillo (1) and Shuttlecock (1) were replaced by Armadillo (2) and Shuttlecock (2) in 1928 and 1929 respectively, 66 feet long and built by Rogers of Cremyll.
 
When the line of descent ceased with the death of the fifth Earl in 1944, the ferry passed to the Millbrook Steamboat & Trading Company (who had been operating it for a year anyway). Armadillo (2) and Shuttlecock (2) were dieselised by the Millbrook 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 they 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.
 
 
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.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Southern Belle
(Yarmouth & Gorleston SP Co: 2006- )
 
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. Contact: 07906 020225 for details - www.southernbelle.co.uk
 
More images of Southern Belle in Norfolk
 
 
Simplon Postcards release sp1283 of Southern Belle at Reedham
Copies of this card are available from www.hjcards.co.uk
Click to open larger image in new window
 
 
Simplon Postcards release sp1283a of Southern Belle issued for a Coastal Cruising Association charter on 16th May 2008
Copies of this card are available from www.hjcards.co.uk
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Southern Belle arriving at Great Yarmouth
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 1st August 2006 - More images of Southern Belle
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Southern Belle arriving at Great Yarmouth
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 1st August 2006 - More images of Southern Belle
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Southern Belle arriving at Great Yarmouth
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 1st August 2006 - More images of Southern Belle
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Southern Belle leaving Great Yarmouth for Reedham
The Town Hall in the background appears in many old postcards of excursion steamers at Great Yarmouth
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 1st August 2006
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Southern Belle leaving Great Yarmouth
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 1st August 2006 - More images of Southern Belle
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Southern Belle leaving Great Yarmouth
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 1st August 2006 - More images of Southern Belle
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Southern Belle arriving at Reedham
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 5th September 2006 - More images of Southern Belle
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Southern Belle leaving Reedham
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 5th September 2006 - More images of Southern Belle
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Southern Belle leaving Reedham
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 5th September 2006 - More images of Southern Belle
Click to open larger image in new window
 
 
Southern Belle leaving Reedham
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 5th September 2006 - More images of Southern Belle
Click to open larger image in new window
 
 
Southern Belle leaving Reedham
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 5th September 2006 - More images of Southern Belle
Click to open larger image in new window
 
 
Southern Belle leaving Reedham
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 5th September 2006 - More images of Southern Belle
Click to open larger image in new window
 
 
 
 
 
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