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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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