The Wallasey Fleet |
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Name |
Date Built (Acquired) |
Gross Tonnage |
Dimensions (LxBxD) ft |
Notes |
| Seacombe [1] | 1822 | 49 | 70x26.5x7 | Sold by 1836 or rebuilt (See Seacombe [2]) |
| Alexander | 1824 | 40 | ? sold 1829 | |
| Alice | 1824 | 50 | ? Burnt out 1825 & rebuilt. Sold 1833-39. Broken up between 1847-52 | |
| Sir John Moore | 1826 (1834) |
92 | 103x116.6x8.8 | |
| Loch Eck | 1829 (1830) |
37 | 81.9x12.4x7.1 | Egremont steamer. Sold 1837 (?) |
| John Rigby | 1831 | 50 | 83.0x13.2x8.2 | Sold by 1853 |
| Hero | 1826 (1832) |
? | 80.4x16.6x? | Built for Tranmere ferry. Sold 1835 or 1838. Used also on Liverpool-Magazines-Hoylake ferry |
| Liverpool | 1830 (c1835) |
? | Sold 1853 | |
| Ennishowen | 1834 (1836) |
70 | 91.6x15.4x8.0 | |
| Admiral Lord Nelson | 1835 | ? | Destroyed in hurricane 6th Jan.1839 | |
| Seacombe [2] | 1836 | 50 | 77x14.9x7.0 | Probably a rebuild of Seacombe [1]. Sold Feb. 1853 |
| Egremont [1] later Jenny Lind | 1837 | 68 | 87.7x17.4x8.2 | Egremont steamer. Renamed Jenny Lind in 1849. Resumed original name & used at Seacombe 1853. Scrapped 1853 |
| Thomas Royden | 1837 | 108 | 90.7x15.1x7.4 | Egremont steamer. Sold 1853. Broken up after collision with Waterlily, 1868. |
| Elizabeth | 1840 | 51 | 88.6x15.3x7.8 | Bought as a goods boat. 401 pass. New boiler 1853. Goods boat again 1862 |
| Thomas Wilson | 1845 | 50 | 92.7x14.8x8.4 | Cost £1,500. Believed sunk 1858. Luggage boat 1872-1877. Sold in 1878 |
| Queen of Beauty | 1845 | 68 | 87x17x8 | Ex-yacht. Still working 1.1856. Twin bulkheads; two compartments. Last Coulborn boat. |
| Sir Thomas Stanley | 1834 (18??) |
100 | 85.3x15.9x7.0 | Built of oak for Eastham ferry. Offered for sale 1854. Broken up in Apr. 1857 |
| James Atherton | 1846 | 108 | 116.3x16.3x7.6 | Cost £4,800. 529 pass. New boiler 1855. Reboilered, engines repaired & hull altered 1864. Luggage boat 1878. Sold in 1881. Broken up 1884. |
| Duke | 1839 (1846) |
80 | 76x16x? | Egremont steamer. Repossessed by Southern 1847 |
| Wallasey [1] | 1847 | 119 | 109.8x16.6x9.0 | Cost £2,500. 650 pass. Rebuilt by Coulborns?1857. Sold to Local Board £1,000 1861. Sunk 1.12.1867. Raised and sold 1.1868 |
| Invincible | (1849) | 78 | 100x16.6x8.9 | Sold 1854 as passenger tender. Rebuilt 1861. |
| Fairy | 1849 | 75 | 118x16x7.5 | Cost £5,200. 514 pass. New boiler 1860. Withdrawn 1862. Engine & boiler to Wild Rose & broken up 1862. |
| Ramsgate Packet | 1834 (1853) |
107 | 94.5x14.9x9.8 | Sold by Thomas Prestopino 1866. Broken up at Tranmere 1868. |
| Britannia | 1827 (1853) |
80 | 67.7x14.8x6.2 | Built for Tranmere ferry. Several owners by 1853. Sold 1854. |
 |
 |
 |
Sir John Moore |
Queen of Beauty |
Gem |
 |
 |
 |
Waterlily |
Heatherbell |
Swallow |
 |
 |
 |
Violet |
Tulip |
Crocus |
| Tiger | 1853 (1857) |
53 | ?x?x6.3 | Cost £1,500. 370 pass. To New Brighton 1859. Sold in 1864 for £560 to Cato.Miller & Co. |
| Mayflower | 1862 | 182.8 | 135.6x20.1x8.1 | 653 pass. 863 from 1877. Launched 14.05.1862. In 1877 lengthened to 155ft. New engines 1877. Sold to Allsup 1885 then to Rock Ferry Co. 1886. Renamed Mayfly 1888. Sold as hospital ship Dartmouth 1893. |
| Waterlily | 1862 | 204 | 140x22.1x8.4 | Cost £5,400. Launched 1862. 793 pass. First vessel with saloons. Gas lit. Scrapped 1892. |
| Wild Rose | 1862 | 155 | 105.4x21.2x9.0 | Trials 30.09.1862. 503 pass. Sold 1883 T. Redhead as tug |
| Gem (ex-Liscard) |
1858 (1864) |
48 later 100 |
122x18x7.8 133.4x18.1x8.1 |
Cost £5,200. 417 pass. Renamed 1861 for service on Clyde. Bought in 1864 for £1,050 from Whitworth & Sons. Sold to Allsups 1881. Wrecked off Sicily Is. 26.11.1881 en route to Sierra Leone. |
| Heatherbell | 1865 | 205 | 159.8x21.2x9.0 | Cost £7,000. Launched 1865. 807 pass. (later 837). Sold to H.J Ward, L'pool for £950. Renamed Erin's King. St. George's Steam Tug Co. Dublin. Scrapped by Kin, Garston 1900. |
| Maggie | 1867 (1874) |
119 | 87x19.8x9.7 | Coal barge. Cost £1,500 from West Hartlepool. Fitted with steam winch to lift 2½t. June 1874. Reboilered 1883. Taken in part exchange by James Scott for Emily 1895 for £260. |
| Seymour | 1869 (1872) |
110 | 121.6x18.0x7.8 | 543 pass. Ex-Tranmere Ferry Co. 1872. £4,000. Sold to S. Davies, Tranmere 1886 £250. To J.Davies 1889. |
| Swallow | 1852 (1872) |
93 | 131.7x15.1x7.3 | Ex-Loch Lomond Steam Boat Co. Renamed from Queen Victoria 1868. Purchased 1872 for £1,300. Sold to Thomas Seed 1882. Broken up 1883. |
| South End | 1864 (1876) |
255 | 121.5x31.3x6.9 | Ex.Mersey River Steamboat Co. Landing stage. Sold 1883. |
| Sunflower | 1879 | 345 later 242 |
140.2x26.2x9.6 | Launched 13.8.1879. Cost £7,800. Pass.cert.998. Built as luggage boat with railway tracks on deck. Rebuilt as passenger ship (951) 1882. Broken up be ferry staff end 1904. |
| Daisy | 1879 | 285 | 150.2x25.3x10.3 | Launched 13.8.1879. Cost £9,100. 965. New boilers & saloon lengthened 1893. Sold to Hughes & Thomas £625 1910. |
| Primrose | 1879 | 285 | 150.2x25.3x10.3 | Launched 5.7.1879. In service 2.10.1879. 965 pass. Sold 4.1906. To R.&D. Jones, L'pool for cruising 1908. |
| Wallasey [2] | 1881 | 459 | 140x45x11 | Luggage boat. Launched 10.9.1881. Into service 8.82. Cost £11,300. Based on Birkenhead steamer Oxton. Broken up 1925. |
| Violet | 1883 | 273 | 150x26.1x10.2 | Launched 2.11.1883. Cost £10,250. 1,017 pass. Sold to J.J. King & Sons, Garston 1901 (£790) Broken up. |
| Crocus | 1884 | 301 | 130.9x35.1x10.9 | Launched 23.8.1884. In service 26.1.1885. 1303 pass. Cost £12,250. Sold to Chester owners 1909 for £699. |
| Snowdrop [1] | 1884 | 300 | 130.9x35.2x10.9 | Launched 20.11.1884. In service 3.1885. Cost £12,250. Sold to Mersey Trading Co., L'pool for Rhyl-Llandudno service. Lost at sea off Rhyll 1908. |
| Thistle | 1891 | 301 | 150.0x26.2x10.5 | Cost £12,650. 1,200 pass. Withdrawn 1910. Sold (£750) to John Hughes & Co. 1911. |
| Shamrock | 1865 (1891) |
373 | 150.6x32.2x10.9 | Ex-Birkenhead Corporation. Cost £700. Renamed from Woodside 1891. Rebuilt as luggage boat & used as landing boat. The only two funnel luggage boat. Sold £766 to J.J King, Garston 1902. |
| Emily | 1895 | 154 | 97.4x19.0x9.3 | Coal barge. Launched 1895. Cost £2,041. Sold 1933 for scrap £550. |
| Pansy | 1896 | 333 | 160.0x27.1x9.9 | 1,240 pass. Sold 1916. Sank at Bull Bay, Anglesey 21 January 1917. |
| John Heron | 1896 | 333 | 160.0x27.1x9.9 | 1,240 pass. In service 1896. Requisitioned 1916. Sold to Soc.de Transbordment, Cherbourg as tender, Broken up 1925. |
| Tulip | 1898 | 432 | 160.0x27.1x11.1 | Suction dredger. Sold to Grayson, Rollo & Clover Docks 1934. Scrapped at Troon 1964. |
 |
 |
 |
Sunflower |
Primrose |
Thistle |
 |
 |
 |
John Herron |
Rose |
Lily |
 |
 |
 |
Pansy |
Seacombe |
Leasowe |
| Rose | 1900 | 514 | 155.6x42.1x11.0 | 1,831 pass. Flying bridge added 1901. Sold to Palmer, Dublin and renamed An Saorstat 1927. Sold to British Iron & Steel Co. and renamed Biscoslave 1941. Broken up at Preston 1951. |
| Lily | 1900 | 514 | 155.6x42.1x11.0 | 1,831 pass. Sold to Palmer, Dublin and renamed Failte 1927. Sold to British & Irish SS Co. 1941. Wrecked and broken up at Passage Way, Cork 1943. |
| Seacombe [3] | 1901 | 589 | 140.0x50.3x12.0 | Luggage boat. Launched 1901. Cost £18,000. Sold 1929. Broken up. |
| Iris | 1906 | 465 | 152.0x40.6x11.2 | 1,735 pass. Covered accommodation for steersman 3. 1911. Requisitioned by Admiralty 1917. Extensive refit and renamed Royal Iris 1919. Cruise ship with grey hull 1923. Sold 1931 to Palmer, Dublin. To Cork Hbr Commrs. renamed Blarney 1946. Scrapped at Passage West 1961. |
| Daffodil | 1906 | 465 | 152.0x40.6x11.2 | 1,735 pass. Covered accommodation for steersman 3. 1911. Requisitioned by Admiralty 1917. Extensive refit and renamed Royal Daffodil 1919. Cruise ship with grey hull 1923. Sold to New Medway Steam Packet Co. 1934. Sold for £1,000 and broken up at Ghent 1938. |
| Bluebell renamed John Joyce | 1910 | 439 | 152.3x38.6x10.9 | 1,536 pass. Sold to Palgrove, Murphy, Dublin for £2,450 1936. To Cork Harbour Commrs. and renamed Shandon 1946. Broken up at Passage West 1961. |
| Snowdrop [2] | 1910 | 439 | 152.3x38.6x10.9 | 1,563 pass. Sold to LNE Rly. Co. for £2,350 1936 for Granton-Burntisland service. Renamed Thane of Fife. Tender service during 1939-45 war. Scrapped at Passage West ? |
| Leasowe [1] | 1921 | 734 | 146.3x50.1x14.0 | Luggage boat. Sold for £1,850 & broken up at Preston 1948. Other accounts say left Mersey for Troon 1948. |
| Liscard [2] | 1921 | 734 | 146.3x50.1x14.0 | Luggage boat. Requisitioned as floating crane 1941. Sold to Danish owners for c£10,000 1946. Converted to salvage vessel and renamed Lisca. |
| Francis Storey | 1922 | 464 | 150.0x40.1x11.0 | 1,629 pass. To Navy 1942 as Net defence vessel.Sold to Cork Harbour Commrs. 1951 (£7,500). Renamed Killarney. |
| J.Farley | 1922 | 464 | 150.0x40.1x11.0 | Launched 17.1.1922. 1,629 pass. Requisitioned 1943 as Net defence vessel. Reconditioned & converted to oil burning 1946. Sold 1952 for £12,000. |
| Wallasey [3] | 1927 | 606 | 151.4x48.1x14.5 | 2,233 pass. In service 19.7.27. Cost £42,298. Reconditioned by Harland & Wolff 1958 (£62,401). Sold to Can Heyghen Freres, Antwerp (£5,150) 1964. |
| Marlowe | 1927 | 606 | 151.4x48.1x14.5 | 2,333 pass. In service 30.8.27. Cost £41,602. Converted to oil 1947. 2 oil fired Scotch boilers. Sold 1958 British Iron & Steel Corp (£6,000). Broken up at Preston by Thomas Ward & Co. |
| Perch Rock | 1929 | 766 | 144.6x50.1x15.4 | Luggage boat. Launched 25.1.1929. Last vehicle ferry in service 31.3.1947. Converted as relief passenger vessel 1947 (1,600 pass). Sold to Swedish owners 17.12.1953 (£8,800). Renamed Betula and converted into passenger and vehicle ferry. |
| Royal Iris II | 1932 | 607 | 151.0x48.1x13.0 | 2,024 pass. In service 10.5.1932. Cost £43,290. Renamed Royal Iris 1947. Renamed St. Hilary 1950. Sold to Provinciale Waterstaat Suid Holland 1956 (£12,000). Converted to car ferry & renamed Haringoliet. |
| Emily II | 1933 | 284 | 121x24x11 | Coal barge. Launched 26.6.1933. Cost £9,690. Sold 1937. |
| Royal Daffodil II [1] | 1934 | 591 | 151.046.0x13.5 | 1,995. (1955: 1,982 ferry service, 850 cruising). Cost £44,790. Sunk at Seacombe 8.5.1941. Raised 2.6.1942. Reconditioned by Grayson, Rollo & Clover & re-entered service 2.6.1943. Converted to oil 1947. Renamed St. Hilary 1957. Sold 1962 (£7,000) |
| Wallasey Belle | 1944 (1949) |
125 | 108.3x17.8x10.1 | 250 pass. Acquired as Channel Belle for £14,500 1949. Renamed Wallasey Belle 1.4.1950. Laid up end 1950. Sold 1953 (£1,250) to Martin, Torquay. |
 |
 |
 |
(Royal) Iris |
(Royal) Daffodil |
Snowdrop II |
 |
 |
 |
John Joyce |
J.Farley |
Liscard |
 |
 |
 |
Francis Storey |
Wallasey |
Marlowe |
| Royal Iris [3] | 1951 | 622 | 160.0x48.1x13.6 | Launched 5.12.1950. In service 2.5.1951. 2,296 pass (ferry) 1,00 cruising. Cost £450,000. Refurbished 1972 (£68,000) Sold 1993 for use as a club at Cardiff. Moored, derelict, on Thames since 2002. |
| Leasowe [2] | 1951 | 311 | 133.7x34.1x11.3 | Launched 18.5.1951. 1,471 pass. ferry, 700 cruising. Cost £140,000. Sold 2.1974 to Greek owners & renamed Naias II (£3,400) |
| Egremont [2] | 1951 | 311 | 133.7x34.1x11.3 | Launched 10.12.1951. 1,271 pass. ferry, 700 cruising. Cost £140,000. Sold 3.8.1975 for use as a club at Salcombe, Devon. |
| Royal Daffodil II [2] | 1958 | 609 | 143.1x46.1x12.0 | 1,950 pass. Cost £225,000.Air brakes fitted 1963. Renamed Royal Daffodil. Sold to Greek owners (£55,000) & renamed Ioulis Keas II. |
| Mountwood | 1960 | 464 | 152.3x40.5x12.5 | 1,200 pass. Bridge control. Automatic air brakes. Refitted 2001 by Wright & Beyer. Renamed Royal Iris of the Mersey 2002, ex-Birkenhead Corporation. |
| Woodchurch | 1960 | 464 | 152.3x40.5x12.5 | 1,200 pass. Bridge control. Automatic air brakes. Renamed Snowdrop, 2003, ex-Birkenhead Corporation. |
| Overchurch | 1962 | 468 | 152.3x40.6x12.5 | 1,200 pass. Bridge control. Automatic air brakes, ex-Birkenhead Corporation. Refitted 6.1999 by Wartsila NSD (UK) Ltd; Equipped with CW6L170kw engines. Through saloon on both decks. Forward gangway doors removed. Renamed Royal Daffodil. |
 |
 |
 |
Royal Iris II |
Royal Daffodil II (1) |
Leasowe (2) |
 |
 |
 |
Egremont (2) |
Royal Daffoldil II (2) |
Royal Iris (3) |
 |
 |
 |
Mountwood |
Woodchurch |
Overchurch |