Bristol Ferry Boats facts for kids
Bristol Ferry Boats are special yellow-and-blue boats that work like water buses in Bristol Harbour in Bristol, England. They used to be owned by the Bristol Ferry Boat Company. Now, a group called Bristol Community Ferry Boats runs them. This group is a community interest company, which means it's owned by many people from the community.
The company offers regular boat trips, fun tours, and you can even hire a boat for private events. Their regular trips connect Bristol city centre to Temple Meads railway station and Hotwells. They stop at 17 different places along the harbour, including the famous ship, the SS Great Britain. These services run without government help.
History of Bristol Ferry Boats
The idea for Bristol Ferry Boats started in 1977. A group in Bristol, called City Docks Ventures, bought the first ferry boat, named Margaret. Ian Bungard became her skipper. In 1978, Ian bought Margaret and began to grow the business.
In 1980, another boat called Independence joined Margaret. The ferry service offered trips all year round for fun, sightseeing, and daily travel. It also showed how Bristol's Floating Harbour was changing from a place for cargo ships to a fun area. In 1984, the Royal Mail even put a picture of Margaret on a special stamp! The yellow and blue boats became very well known.
In 1992, the company got Emily, their first boat with an enclosed cabin. Then in 1997, Matilda joined the fleet. Matilda was the first boat built especially for Bristol Ferry Boats.
In 2002, Ian Bungard sold the business to Rob and Jane Salvidge. From 2002, the company added more trips to Hotwells and Bristol Temple Meads. These trips were supported by Bristol City Council. In 2004, a short ferry trip across the harbour was added between the SS Great Britain and Capricorn Quay. In 2006, Brigantia joined the fleet. She was designed like Matilda.
However, in 2007, the contract for the council-supported services went to another company. Bristol Ferry Boats kept running their main services.
In November 2012, the Bristol Ferry Boat Company faced financial problems. Supporters, including the first owner Ian Bungard, bought the boats back. In 2013, many people from Bristol helped turn the company into a community-owned business. Now, Bristol Community Ferry Boats Limited is owned by 871 shareholders from all over Bristol.
Where the Ferries Go
Bristol Ferry Boats run almost every day of the year (364 days!). They have one main route that links Temple Meads railway station and Hotwells, going through Bristol city centre. Boats leave every 40 minutes.
Here are some of the places they stop:
| # | Landing stage | Close to |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | City Centre | The Centre, Watershed Arts Centre, Bristol Cathedral, and College Green |
| 2 | Cannons Marsh | Millennium Square and At-Bristol |
| 3 | Harbour Inlet | |
| 4 | Mardyke | |
| 5 | Hotwells-Pumphouse | Hotwells and the Clifton Suspension Bridge (a 20-minute uphill walk) |
| 6 | Hotwells-The Nova Scotia | Cumberland Basin and Underfall Yard |
| 7 | Hotwells-The Cottage | |
| 8 | Marina | Bristol Marina |
| 9 | Great Britain | The famous ship Great Britain |
| 10 | Wapping Wharf | |
| 11 | Prince Street Bridge | Arnolfini Art Gallery, Queen Square, M Shed museum, and Bristol Harbour Railway |
| 12 | Bathurst Basin | Bathurst Basin |
| 13 | Welsh Back | Welsh Back, Bristol Bridge, Llandoger Trow pub, and St Nicholas Market |
| 14 | Redcliffe Back | |
| 15 | Castle Park | Castle Park and the Broadmead shopping area (with Cabot Circus and Galleries malls) |
| 16 | Temple Bridge | Cheese Lane Shot Tower |
| 17 | Temple Quay | Bristol Temple Meads railway station |
The Ferry Fleet
The Bristol Ferry Boats company has several boats in its fleet:
| Name | Built | Joined Fleet | People Capacity | Notes | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brigantia | 2006 | 2006 | 50 | This boat has a steel hull and an enclosed cabin. It was built for Bristol Ferry, based on the design of Matilda, and has a roof that can be lowered and a lift for wheelchairs. |  |
| Emily | 1927 | 1992 | 48 | This boat has a wooden hull and an enclosed cabin. It was built in Bideford and used to be in Scarborough and Gloucester Docks. |  |
| Independence | 1927 | 1980 | 46 | This boat has a wooden hull and is open-topped. It was used on the Severn and Wye rivers before coming to Bristol. |  |
| Margaret | 1952 | 1977 | 28 | This boat has a wooden hull and is open-topped. It was built in Appledore and was used as a ferry across the Avon river. Margaret is the original yellow and blue ferry boat, operating since 1977. |  |
| Matilda | 1997 | 1997 | 50 | This boat has a steel hull and an enclosed cabin. It is about 14 meters (46 feet) long and 4.6 meters (15 feet) wide. It was built especially for Bristol Ferry. |  |
The Matilda and Brigantia boats can travel on the Avon river all the way to Avonmouth, through the Avon Gorge. They can also go throughout Bristol Harbour and up the Avon river to Bath. The other boats can only travel in Bristol Harbour and the upstream Avon.
Images for kids
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Emily passes the Welsh Back landing stage, with Bristol Bridge in the background
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Matilda alongside the City Centre landing stage at the head of St. Augustine's Reach
