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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. [1]
The company also operated bus services on the Rame Peninsula in Cornwall. The bus services were eventually taken over by Western National.
In 1980 the company was sold to Dart Pleasure Craft. In 1985 the new owners pulled out of operations in the Plymouth area, and the company closed.
Name | Built | Company service | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
SS Despatch | 1884 | 1894–1900? | |
SS Cornubia | 1895 | 1895–1921 | Used almost entirely on the Millbrook ferry |
SS Devonia | 1896 | 1896–1918? | Excursion steamer, sometimes used on Millbrook ferry |
PS Britannia | 1900 | 1900–1937 | Excursion & ferry services |
SS Iolanthe | 1887 | 1900–1909? | |
PS Hibernia | 1903 | 1903–1928 | Excursion steamer |
PS Brunel | 1905 | 1909–1916 | Excursion steamer, originally from Thames service |
MV Manna / Devon Belle | 1922 | 1927–1979 | River excursions. Renamed Devon Belle 1936. |
MV Lady Elizabeth | 1924 | 1930–1979 | Various services |
PS Whitsand Castle | 1903 | 1932–1935 | Unsuccessful Millbrook Ferry service |
MV Tamar Belle | 1927 | 1932?–1959 | Millbrook & Cremyll Ferry |
MV Western Belle | 1935 | 1935–1985 | River and coastal excursions |
MV Southern Belle | 1925 | 1946–1985 | River excursions |
MV Northern Belle | 1926 | 1946–1985 | Cremyll Ferry |
MV Eastern Belle | 1946 | 1957–1985 | River excursions |
MV Plymouth Belle | 1961 | 1961–1985 | Cawsand Ferry |
MV Dartmouth Castle | 1948 | 1975–1977 | Returned to Plymouth from time to time between 1980 and 1985 |
MV Cardiff Castle | 1964 | 1977–1985 | Occasionally returned to Plymouth after 1977 |
Edgecumbe Belle | 1959 | 1979–1985 | Cremyll & Drakes Island Ferry |
MV Queen Boadicea II | 1936 | 1980?–1985 | Drakes Island Ferry |
The Torpoint Ferry is a car and pedestrian chain ferry connecting the A374 which crosses the Hamoaze, a stretch of water at the mouth of the River Tamar, between Devonport in Plymouth and Torpoint in Cornwall. The service was established in 1791 and chain ferry operations were introduced by James Meadows Rendel in 1832.
The Tamar Bridge is a suspension bridge over the River Tamar between Saltash, Cornwall and Plymouth, Devon in southwest England. It is 335 metres (1,099 ft) long, running adjacent the Royal Albert Bridge, and part of the A38, a main road between the two counties.
The Tamar is a river in south west England that forms most of the border between Devon and Cornwall. A part of the Tamar Valley is a World Heritage Site due to its historic mining activities.
Saltash is a town and civil parish in south Cornwall, England. It had a population of 16,184 in 2011 census. Saltash faces the city of Plymouth over the River Tamar and is popularly known as "the Gateway to Cornwall". Saltash’s landmarks include the Tamar Bridge which connects Plymouth to Cornwall by road, and the Royal Albert Bridge. The area of Latchbrook is part of the town.
St Budeaux Victoria Road railway station is a suburban station in St Budeaux, Plymouth, Devon, England. The station is managed and served by Great Western Railway.
Stagecoach South West is a bus operator providing services in Devon and East Cornwall along with coach services to Bristol. It is a subsidiary of Stagecoach.
First South West is a bus company operating services in the English counties of Somerset and Cornwall. It is a subsidiary of FirstGroup.
The Cornish Main Line is a railway line in Cornwall and Devon in the United Kingdom. It runs from Penzance to Plymouth, crossing from Cornwall into Devon over the famous Royal Albert Bridge at Saltash.
The Forgotten Corner of Cornwall is a geographical area of South East Cornwall, Great Britain. It includes the Rame Peninsula and the town of Torpoint, as well as villages like Antony, Downderry, Polbathic, Portwrinkle and Widegates.
The evolution of transport in Cornwall has been shaped by the county's strong maritime, mining and industrial traditions and much of the transport infrastructure reflects this heritage.
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.
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.
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 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.
The MV Edgecumbe Belle is a single screw passenger vessel, operating from Dartmouth, Devon, UK to Kingswear for Dart Pleasure Craft Limited.
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.
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.
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.