Many of the older Clyde steamers, when past their prime, tended to migrate to the ferry services on the Mersey and my own interest has pushed me to collect old photographic material from the Liverpool area in the hopes that a familiar name or silhouette might present itself; alas to no avail. A quick read of the chapter on Mersey Ferries in Duckworth and Langmuir’s “West Coast Steamers,” reveals a history complicated by changes in ownership that will surely not be elucidated here. However, this small collection of photographs may be of interest to readers and shows the development of the Mersey ferries from flush-decks to deck saloons. I will present them here with whatever identification I have made so far. I welcome any other information on the photographs. I have also added a few more illustrations of some coastal traders from the Mersey.
An unidentified vessel, likely a tug involved in ferry duties, at Prince’s landing stage.
One of the earliest photographs shows the “Railway Boat,” Queen, an iron paddle steamer built in 1844 by Messrs John Laird of Birkenhead. She was 109½ feet in length and sailed on the Birkenhead station until 1880. The photograph dates to the mid 1860s.
The Woodside was another “Railway Boat,” built by Messrs Jordan & Getty, Liverpool for the Birkenhead station in 1853. She was 108¼ feet in length and was the first steamer on the passage to have a “glass saloon” on deck for the comfort of passengers. She was sold to Messrs E. G. & S. Willoughby around 1866 and lasted into the 1880s.
Fairy Queen was a product of Messrs Harland & Wolff, Belfast in 1865 and was 135 feet in length. She was owned by the Rock Ferry Co. Ltd., that served Birkenhead, and was sold to Messrs Thompson & Gough for the Eastham ferry station in the late 1870s. She lasted into the late 1890s. There is an identifiable tug, Fury, in the background.
Fairy Queen’s sister Gipsy Queen at Princess landing stage (Frith)
The Wallasey ferry, Heather Bell was built by Messrs T. Vernon & Sons, Liverpool, in 1863. She was 159¾ feet in length and was double ended with deck saloons fore and aft. She was sold in 1891 and placed on the Liffy in Dublin where she is seen here. Renamed Erin’s King, she featured in James Joyce’s novel, Ulysses
May Queen on the Seacombe station at Liverpool landing stage around 1880. The Wallasey ferry was built in 1862 by Jones Quiggin & Co., and had a raised quarter-deck providing saloon accommodation
Alexandra at St George’s Landing Stage in 1883. Built at Govan in 1866 for the Rock Ferry Co., she was sold to owners in Preston in 1887
Following Alexandra is an unidentified double-ended steamer with a raised quarter-dock and short fore saloon
The double-ended steamer, Water Lily, with a raised quarter-dock and short fore saloon
Another unidentified seamer at the Liverpool landing stage
The Liverpool Landing Stage in 1894 showing the variety of vessels involved in cross-river traffic.
An enlargement of the above photograph, shows the tug-tender America, previously the Birkenhead ferry, Cheshire built by Messrs H. M. Laurence & Co., Liverpool, in 1863, among the other vessels. She was an iron paddle steamer 150 feet long and her length made berthing at the congested landing stage difficult early in her career. She was sold in 1888 and renamed as a tender.
Liverpool Landing Stage around 1890
Primrose was built at Rutherglen on the Clyde by Messrs T. B. Seath & Co., in 1879 for the Wallasey station. She was 150 feet in length, and, with two funnels, was successful, lasting until 1905 with the Company. The photograph dates from 1894.
The New Brighton boat Primrose
Another Seath product of 1876 was the Bonnie Doon. Built for the Glasgow to Ayr service of Messrs Seath & Steel, and the second of her name, she developed a reputation as the “Bonnie Breakdoun.” She was moved to the Mersey in 1881 for the Liverpool, Llandudno and Welsh Coast Steam boat Co. Ltd., in which Seath likely had an interest, but did not remain long with the, returning to the Clyde the following year.
Screw steamers were introduced and gradually took over the ferry services. Crocus was built of steel by Messrs W. Allsup & Son, Preston in 1884 for the Wallasey service. She had four screws, two at each end, described as a double twin screw steam ship. She and her sister, Snowdrop, were not entirely successful. Farther down the quay is the Lancashire of 1865.
Lancashire of 1865
Seath built twin screw steamer, Manx Ferry, sailed from Liverpool from 1887, when she was built, till 1893 and then moved to the Manchester Ship Canal
Bonnie Doon’s replacement in 1882 was built at Rutherglen. The Bonnie Princess at 240 feet was one of the longest vessels to negotiate the weir at Glasgow after her launch. She was capable of 14 knots and with her whaleback, sailed well in the open waters of the Welsh coast. She also developed a reputation as a “Bonnie Mess”, but spent 13 years on the service before being sold to Messrs P & A. Campbell.
