Mersey Ferry facts for kids

The Mersey Ferry is a special boat service that travels on the River Mersey in north west England. It connects Liverpool on the east side with Birkenhead and Wallasey on the Wirral Peninsula to the west. People have used ferries on this river for a very long time, since at least the 1100s! Today, these ferries are still popular for both local people and visitors who want to see the sights.

The Mersey Ferry currently has two main boats. A third ferry, the Royal Daffodil, was used until 2012. The boats used today first started service in the 1960s and were called Mountwood and Woodchurch. They have been completely updated and are now named Royal Iris of the Mersey and Snowdrop. These ferries share the job of taking people across the river, hosting special trips, and offering cruises along the Manchester Ship Canal. The ferry service is run by Merseytravel and is known as the “Mersey Ferries” brand.

History of the Mersey Ferries

Early Ferries: From Monks to Sailboats

Around the year 1150, a group of monks from the Birkenhead Priory started a ferry service. They would row people across the river and charge a small fee. Back then, the Mersey River was much wider. The only good spot for the ferry to land was in an area called the Pool, close to where the police headquarters are today. Bad weather often stopped the crossings, and passengers sometimes had to wait for days at the priory.

In 1317, the monks received special permission from the king to build places for people to stay while waiting for the ferry. King Edward II visited Liverpool in 1323 and used local ferrymen to travel up the river. Later, in 1330, his son King Edward III gave the Priory a special charter. This gave them the right to run the ferry forever, carrying people, horses, and goods, and to charge fair prices.

Over time, private owners took over the ferry services. By the 1500s, they started using larger sailing ships. While these ships could carry more, they were still very dependent on the weather. The Mersey is known for its thick fogs, which often stopped the ferries from running in winter.

By the 1700s, Liverpool was growing fast, and more people were traveling by stage coach from Chester. This made the ferry services even more important for moving people and goods across the river. New ferry stops opened up, like at Rock Ferry in 1709 and New Ferry in 1774.

The Age of Steam Ferries

The first steamship on the Mersey was the Elizabeth, which started running in 1815. Steam power meant boats could travel more reliably, even against the current or without wind. In 1822, the paddle steamer Royal Mail began regular service between Liverpool and Woodside.

As Birkenhead grew into a busy town, the ferry services needed to improve. In 1847, a big step forward happened in Liverpool: the first floating landing stage was opened. This special pier would rise and fall with the tide, allowing boats to dock easily at any time.

Ferries Under City Control

Before the Mersey Railway tunnel opened in 1886, the ferries were the only way to cross the river, so they were very busy. All the ferry routes were owned by private companies until the mid-1800s, when local city councils took them over. Birkenhead took over the Woodside ferry in 1858, and Wallasey took over services at Seacombe, Egremont, and New Brighton in 1861.

In 1886, the Mersey Railway Tunnel opened, giving the ferries some competition. Even so, in 1894, trains carried 25,000 passengers a day, but the ferries still carried 44,000!

During the First World War, two Mersey ferries, the Iris and Daffodil, were used as troop ships in a brave naval attack on Zeebrugge in Belgium. They had a shallow design, which helped them avoid underwater mines. They were strong enough to get close to the heavily defended mole (a long pier) in the North Sea. Both ships saw action and helped the mission succeed. Because of their bravery, King George V allowed them to use the word "Royal" in their names.

The ferries continued to develop. Early propeller-driven ships, like the 1906 Royal Iris and Royal Daffodil, looked similar to today's modern vessels. They were designed for good navigation and could reach speeds of about 12 knots, similar to the ferries today.

When the Queensway road tunnel opened in 1934, it caused problems for the ferries. The Seacombe ferry service lost two million passengers because people started using the tunnel instead. Services that carried vehicles and goods also saw an 80% drop in traffic. By the 1940s, these "luggage boat" services had stopped completely.

Due to fewer passengers and financial losses, some ferry terminals closed. New Ferry closed in 1927, Eastham in 1929, and Rock Ferry in 1939. The Egremont service also closed during the Second World War after its pier was damaged.

In 1941, floating mines in the River Mersey stopped ferry crossings. Some ferries were even fitted with cranes to help unload US aircraft from the middle of the river.

By 1950, the ferries still carried almost 30 million passengers a year, but by 1970, this number had fallen to 7 million.

The MPTE Takes Over and Modern Times

In 1969, the ferry services came under the control of the Merseyside Passenger Transport Executive (MPTE). The New Brighton ferry service was stopped in 1971 because fewer tourists visited and there were problems with sand building up near the landing stage.

The 1970s brought economic challenges, and funding for the ferries was limited. The opening of the Kingsway road tunnel in 1971 caused passenger numbers to drop even further. Many people wanted to keep the ferries, so they were saved, but services became less frequent.

A big change for the ferries happened in 1984. During the International Garden Festival, a special ferry service ran to Otterspool Promenade. The ferries also started offering summer cruises along the Manchester Ship Canal again. In August 1984, sailing ships from the Tall Ships' Race visited the river, bringing over a million visitors in just four days. Many of them took a trip on the famous ferries.

In 1986, new rules allowed buses to travel through the Mersey Tunnels. This meant many bus routes that used to stop at the ferry terminal now went directly into Liverpool. The Mersey Ferries had to change their focus from daily commuters to tourists.

Since 1990, the ferries have offered a commuter service during busy times on weekdays and an hourly "River Explorer Cruise" for tourists. These cruises sail further up the river and provide commentary about the sights. In the summer, there are also cruises up the Manchester Ship Canal.

The Mersey Ferry Boats

The "Royal" Ferries

The "Royal" name was given to the ferries Iris and Daffodil because of their brave service in World War I at Zeebrugge. They were badly damaged but returned home to a hero's welcome.

Perhaps the most famous "Royal" ferry was the Royal Iris from 1951. She was loved by many and was the first diesel-powered boat in the Wallasey fleet. She had a unique, smooth design. The Royal Iris hosted many party cruises and famous bands like Gerry & The Pacemakers, The Searchers, and The Beatles. She was even known as "the fish and chip boat" because of her popular cafe! The Royal Iris served for nearly 40 years before being sold in 1993 to become a floating nightclub in London.

The Mountwood, Woodchurch, and Overchurch

The current Mersey Ferries are two boats, the Royal Iris of the Mersey and Snowdrop. Until 2012, a third ferry, the Royal Daffodil, was also in service. These boats were originally named Mountwood, Woodchurch, and Overchurch after new housing areas in Birkenhead. They were built for the Birkenhead Corporation.

The Mountwood and Woodchurch were built in Dartmouth and started service in 1960. They were very modern for their time, with advanced engines and navigation equipment. They were popular with passengers. The Mountwood was even featured in the film "Ferry Cross The Mersey" and the famous Gerry & The Pacemakers song!

In 1962, the Overchurch joined the fleet. She was built in Birkenhead and had a fully enclosed bridge, unlike her sisters. The Overchurch was used to carry Princess Alexandra to open a new dry dock.

All three ferries were used regularly until 1981, when the Woodchurch was temporarily taken out of service to save money. She returned in 1983, and the Overchurch was then used for a new service to Otterspool for the 1984 International Garden Festival.

In 1989, the Mountwood and Woodchurch were extensively updated. They received new interiors, wiring, and engine repairs. Their bridges were also changed to be one large, enclosed space. They returned to service in 1990.

New Names and Updates

The Overchurch had a major update in 1998, getting new engines and navigation equipment. She was then renamed Royal Daffodil and returned to service in 1999. The Mountwood and Woodchurch were also updated and renamed Royal Iris of the Mersey and Snowdrop in 2002 and 2004.

These updates have greatly extended the life of these ferries. The new engines are also more fuel-efficient and produce less pollution. The Snowdrop and Royal Iris each have two loud fog horns, which are the original ones from when the ferries were first built!

Today, the Mersey Ferries usually stop service when visibility is very poor due to fog, to ensure safety.

Ferry Colors

In the past, you could tell which company owned a ferry by the color of its funnel. Wallasey ferries had black and white funnels. Birkenhead ferries used red and black, which later changed to orange in the 1920s or 1930s. When the two fleets merged in 1969, they adopted new colors.

In 2015, the MV Snowdrop received a special paint job. It was designed by artist Peter Blake and looked like the "dazzle camouflage" used on ships during World War I.

Mersey Ferries and Liverpool 08

The ferries played a big part in Liverpool's European Capital of Culture celebrations in 2008. They carried a record number of passengers. When the Tall Ships returned to the Mersey in July 2008, along with a major golf tournament nearby, over 1 million visitors came to the city. Many of them enjoyed a trip on the famous ferries. All three ferries were packed with people, especially during the Tall Ships parade.

The Future of the Ferries

In 2012, it was announced that the ferry service was losing money, so the Royal Daffodil was taken out of service in January 2013. A big challenge for the future is the cost of replacing the current ferries, which are the oldest ever to sail the river.

In 2015, Merseytravel announced a 20-year plan for the ferries. This plan included possibly closing one of the Wirral landing stages (maybe Woodside) and starting commuter services later in the morning. They also hope to get one or two new boats that are better for social events or music, a feature not available since the 1951 Royal Iris was sold.

The plan suggests that a new vessel could be ready for service by 2020–21. This new boat would be the main ferry for daily use, with the Snowdrop as a backup. In 2018, Steve Rotheram, the Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, announced that designs for a new vessel had been made.

In August 2019, plans were announced to build two new low-carbon ferries and improve the Seacombe ferry terminal. It is hoped that at least one of these new ferries will be ready by 2022.

Images for kids

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  MV Royal Iris of the Mersey

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  MV Snowdrop of Mersey Ferries in Birkenhead colours

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  Mersey ferries Daffodil and Iris at Dover in 1918. The vessels had been requisitioned for war service and had recently returned from participating in the Zeebrugge Raid.

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  The 1951 Royal Iris approaching Liverpool Pier Head in 1972.

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  MV Snowdrop in her "Razzle Dazzle" livery