MV Humphrey Gilbert

Last updated

MV Humphrey Gilbert.jpg
MV Humphrey Gilbert in 1973
History
Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom
Name
  • MV Humphrey Gilbert
  • MV Edgecumbe Belle
Namesake Sir Humphrey Gilbert
Owner
Route
BuilderBlackmore & Sons Bideford
Launched1957
StatusOperating on the River Dart between Dartmouth and Kingswear
General characteristics
TypeSingle-screw motor vessel
Tonnage35 GRT
Length57.9 ft (17.6 m) LOA
Beam13.5 ft (4.1 m)
Depth4.9 ft (1.5 m)
PropulsionDiesel
Capacity149 passengers [1] [2]

The MV Edgecumbe Belle is a single screw passenger vessel, operating from Dartmouth, Devon, UK to Kingswear for Dart Pleasure Craft Limited. [3]

Contents

History

The Dartmouth–Kingswear Passenger Ferry is primarily used to link the town of Dartmouth with the railway station on the other side of the River Dart at Kingswear. It has long been operated by the railway companies, who maintained a 'station' at the Dartmouth side of the river, with no tracks; instead, passengers boarded the ferry to Kingswear, and thence the train towards Paignton.

In 1954 British Railways, the then-operator of the ferry, decided that their present vessel, the SS Mew, was too expensive to operate, and decided to replace her with a smaller and cheaper motor vessel. [4]

They chartered first the MV Lady Elizabeth and then the MV Western Belle from the Millbrook Steamboat & Trading Co Ltd of Plymouth. The former vessel was unsuitable for the route; however, the latter appears to have been quite successful, although there were complaints about the use of a Plymouth vessel, when suitable vessels were available from Dartmouth, so the MV Western Belle was replaced by the River Dart Steamboat Co Ltd's MV Seymour Castle. [5]

In 1956, British Rail finally ordered two motor vessels of their own from Blackmore & Sons of Bideford, North Devon. They were named MV Adrian Gilbert and MV Humphrey Gilbert, after two famous local explorers from Greenway House. In 1972 British Railways closed the railway from Goodrington to Kingswear. The ferry route, and vessels, passed into local authority ownership, first Dartmouth Borough Council, then South Hams District Council. In 1976 the ferry was taken over by Dart Pleasure Craft Ltd, but both vessels were sold to the St Mawes Ferry Co, for service from Falmouth, Cornwall to St Mawes. They were deemed unsuitable, however, and there is some doubt as to whether they ever left the Dart. [6]

The Humphrey Gilbert was seen and photographed in BR 'Rail Blue' livery at Weymouth Harbour in June 1977. British Rail repurchased them for use on the River Thames on the Gravesend–Tilbury Ferry. Again they were deemed unsuitable, and both were re-engined and sold. MV Adrian Gilbert was sold to Dart Pleasure Craft, and returned to the Dartmouth-Kingswear Ferry. MV Humphrey Gilbert was laid up in Newhaven, East Sussex, and in 1978 was sold to Meridian Line Cruises of Greenwich on the River Thames, but remained laid up.

In 1978 Humphrey Gilbert was purchased by the Millbrook Steamboat and Trading Co, renamed MV Edgecumbe Belle and used on the Plymouth–Drake's Island ferry, also relieving on the Cremyll Ferry from time to time. She remained with the Millbrook Company after it was taken over by Dart Pleasure Craft Ltd, but in 1985 Dart Pleasure Craft withdrew from the Plymouth area, and MV Edgecumbe Belle returned to the Dart, and joined her sister on the Dartmouth–Kingswear ferry. [7] In 1996 the Adrian Gilbert was again sold to operate on the St Mawes ferry, and was replaced by the MV Kingswear Belle. In 2000 Dart Pleasure Craft Ltd bought G.H. Riddalls and Sons' fleet, and introduced the former Riddalls vessel Dartmouth Princess on the Kingswear ferry. MV Edgecumbe Belle was used on a new service to Greenway Quay, where the National Trust had opened Agatha Christie's house and gardens to the public (incidentally, this house was previously the home of the Gilbert family, after which the vessel was originally named). This service was later withdrawn and Dart Pleasure Craft instead market the Greenway Ferry Company's similar service. MV Edgecumbe Belle is now back as the relief boat on the Kingswear ferry, and sees considerable operation on the route, as the MV Kingswear Belle now appears to receive little use. [3]

Dart Pleasure Craft Ltd is now owned by Dart Valley Railway plc, owners of the Paignton and Dartmouth Steam Railway, so the ownership and operation of the vessel have come full circle, and once again passengers from Dartmouth buy their train tickets to include the ferry to Kingswear.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">River Dart</span> River in Devon, England

The River Dart is a river in Devon, England, that rises high on Dartmoor and flows for 75 kilometres (47 mi) to the sea at Dartmouth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dartmouth Passenger Ferry</span>

The Dartmouth Passenger Ferry, also known as the Dartmouth Steam Railway and Riverboat company, is a passenger ferry that crosses the River Dart in the English county of Devon. It is one of three ferries that cross the tidal river from Dartmouth to Kingswear, the others being the Higher Ferry and the Lower Ferry. The 630-mile (1,010 km) long South West Coast Path crosses the Dart on either the Lower or Passenger ferries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">River Link (Devon)</span> Ferry, cruise boat and bus operator, based in Devon

River Link is a ferry, cruise boat, and bus operator, based in Devon, England. The company is owned by Dart Valley Railway plc, who also own and operate the Dartmouth Steam Railway.

MV <i>Cardiff Castle</i>

The MV Cardiff Castle is a twin screw passenger vessel, operating on the River Dart in South Devon, UK, mainly on the cruise / ferry route between Dartmouth and Totnes, but also on circular cruises from Dartmouth, for Dart Pleasure Craft Ltd.

The MV Dart Venturer is a twin screw passenger vessel, operating on the River Dart in South Devon, UK, on the cruise / ferry route between Dartmouth and Totnes, and on circular coastal and river cruises from Dartmouth, for Dart Pleasure Craft Ltd.

G.H. Riddalls and Sons was a passenger boat operator on the River Dart, in South Devon, England. It operated on the route from Dartmouth to Totnes, on circular cruises from Dartmouth and also ran the ferry service from Dartmouth to Dittisham. The boats were painted with red hulls and white superstructures, and were marketed as the "Red Cruisers".

MV <i>Dittisham Princess</i>

The MV Dittisham Princess is a twin screw passenger vessel, operating on the River Dart in South Devon, England. She is mainly used for the Western Lady Ferry in Torbay, as well as charters, winter services and as a relief vessel, on the cruise/ferry route between Dartmouth and Totnes, and on circular cruises from Dartmouth, for Dart Pleasure Craft.

MV <i>Devon Belle II</i>

The MV Dartmouth Princess is a single screw passenger vessel, operating on the River Dart in South Devon, United Kingdom. She is mainly used on the Dartmouth Passenger Ferry service from Dartmouth to Kingswear, where she runs year-round as the main vessel.

MV <i>Karina</i> Former Isle of Man passenger vessel

The MV Karina is a single screw passenger vessel, which formerly operated from Douglas, Isle of Man for the Laxey Towing Company. She operated on a selection of cruises along the Manx coast. She is registered on the National Register of Historic Vessels, certificate number 1893.

The Millbrook Steamboat & Trading Company was a ferry operator on the River Tamar between Devon and Cornwall in England. It was started in 1894, and initially operated a ferry route from Millbrook in Cornwall to Plymouth. It expanded, and eventually became the largest river boat operator in the Plymouth area. From 1943 it operated the Cremyll Ferry.

The MV Plymouth Belle is a single screw passenger vessel, operating from Plymouth, Devon on Dockyard and Warships cruises from the new town pier, adjacent to Mayflower Steps.

MV <i>Western Belle</i>

The MV Western Belle is a twin screw passenger vessel. She is owned by Ullswater 'Steamers', who refitted her and launched her on Ullswater in the autumn of 2010.

The Plymouth Boat Cruises was an excursion boat operator on the River Tamar in South Devon. It was started in 1981, in competition with Millbrook Steamboat & Trading Co Ltd. In 1985 the Millbrook company withdrew from the Tamar, and several of its vessels were transferred to Plymouth Boat Cruises. In 2005 the company was taken over by Sound Cruising.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cremyll Ferry</span> Ferry route in England

The Cremyll Ferry is a foot passenger ferry across the Hamoaze from Admirals Hard in Stonehouse, Plymouth, Devon to Cremyll in Cornwall. It is operated by Plymouth Boat Trips, and runs approximately every 30 minutes, with an 8-minute crossing time.

MV <i>Lady Wakefield</i>

The MV Lady Wakefield is a twin screw passenger vessel, operating between Glenridding, Howtown and Pooley Bridge on Ullswater in the Lake District for Ullswater Navigation and Transit Co, marketed as Ullswater 'Steamers'.

MVSeymour Castle is a river boat sailing for Thames River Cruises of Reading, England as the MV Devon Belle. She is registered by National Historic Ships on the National Register of Historic Vessels, certificate number 1955, and is one of the surviving "Little ships of Dunkirk" from the Dunkirk evacuation in 1940.

The River Dart Steamboat Co Ltd (RDSC) and its predecessors, the Dartmouth Steam Packet Company and the Dartmouth and Torbay Steam Packet Company, were the major ferry and excursion boat operators on the River Dart in South Devon for 120 years, until the company's demise in 1976. The company was famous for its distinctive paddle steamers, which were a familiar sight on the river until the late 1960s.

MV <i>Devonair Belle</i>

MV Devonair Belle was the original name of the MV Dart Explorer, which is a twin-screw passenger catamaran, operating on the River Dart in South Devon, UK, mainly on the circular harbour cruise route from Dartmouth, for Dart Pleasure Craft Ltd.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Great Western Railway ships</span> Ferries operated between Britain, Ireland, and France by GWR

The Great Western Railway's ships operated in connection with the company's trains to provide services to Ireland, the Channel Islands and France. Powers were granted by Act of Parliament for the Great Western Railway (GWR) to operate ships in 1871. The following year the company took over the ships operated by Ford and Jackson on the route between Wales and Ireland. Services were operated between Weymouth, the Channel Islands and France on the former Weymouth and Channel Islands Steam Packet Company routes. Smaller GWR vessels were also used as tenders at Plymouth and on ferry routes on the River Severn and River Dart. The railway also operated tugs and other craft at their docks in Wales and South West England.

MV <i>Dartmouth Castle</i>

MV Dartmouth Castle is a passenger ship operating on the River Dart for the Dartmouth Steam Railway. She is listed on the National Register of Historic Ships.

References

  1. ↑ Hammar GP. Trip Out 2005/06, self-published, 2005
  2. ↑ National Register of Historic Vessels. http://www.nationalhistoricships.org.uk/ships_register.php?action=ship&id=1893, Referred 2009
  3. 1 2 Boyle, I, http://www.simplonpc.co.uk/Riddells.html, Referred 2009
  4. ↑ Langley, M. & Small, S. Estuary & River Ferries of South West England, Waine Research Publications, 1984
  5. ↑ Clammer, R. & Kittridge, A. Passenger Steamers of the River Dart & Kingsbridge Estuary, The Paddle Steamer Preservation Society &Twelveheads Press, 1987
  6. ↑ Kittridge, A. Passenger Steamers of the River Fal, Twelveheads Press, 1988
  7. ↑ Kittridge, A. Steamers & Ferries of the River Tamar & Three Towns District, Twelveheads Press, 2003
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.