Tower Belle facts for kids
Tower Belle in the Cumberland Basin
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Quick facts for kids History |
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 United Kingdom |
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| Name | Tower Belle |
| Owner | Bristol Packet Boat Trips |
| Operator | Bristol Packet Boat Trips |
| Builder | Armstrong Whitworth, Newcastle upon Tyne |
| Yard number | 882 |
| Christened | Wincomblee |
| Completed | 1920 |
| Acquired | 1976 |
| Renamed | 1960 |
| Homeport | Bristol |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | River launch |
| Tonnage | 32 GRT |
| Length | 67.97 ft (20.72 m) |
| Beam | 13 ft (4.0 m) |
| Height | 12 ft (3.7 m) |
| Draught | 2.83 ft (0.86 m) |
| Propulsion | Diesel |
| Speed | 10 knots |
| Capacity | 95 passengers |
| Crew | 3 |
| Notes | Mercantile Navy List number 144933 |
The Tower Belle is a special passenger boat that lives in Bristol Harbour, England. It takes people on fun trips around the city's docks and along the River Avon. You can even go on a journey to places like the Chequers Inn at Hanham Lock or Beese's Tea Gardens at Conham. This boat was built a long time ago, in 1920, in a place called Newcastle upon Tyne. It was first named Wincomblee. After working in London for many years in the 1950s and 1960s, Tower Belle finally came to Bristol in 1976.
The Story of Tower Belle
When the boat was first built, it was called Wincomblee. It was named after a place in the Walker area of Newcastle. We don't know much about its very early days. The company that built it, Armstrong Whitworth, used it. It might have been for important company leaders or to carry shipyard workers.
In 1939, the boat was given to the Newcastle City Council. It was probably used as a ferry on the River Tyne during the Second World War. After the war, in 1946, it moved to London. There, it started carrying passengers on the River Thames. It traveled from Westminster Millennium Pier down to Greenwich and up to Hampton Court Palace.
Originally, the boat had two steam-powered propellers. These were replaced with a single propeller driven by a diesel engine. The boat had different owners in London. It was renamed Tower Belle in 1960.
A New Home in Bristol
By 1976, Tower Belle was left alone at Eel Pie Island in Twickenham. People thought it was no longer good enough for the river. But then, the owner of the Bristol Packet Boat Trips company found it. This company already ran boat tours in the Bristol City Docks.
Tower Belle was brought to Bristol by a large truck. It even got a bit more damaged on the way! After being fixed up, it was launched into the docks in late 1976. The company started offering new trips. These included journeys down the Avon Gorge to Avonmouth and back. They also offered trips upriver to the Chequers Inn at Hanham and Beese's Tea Gardens. You could even book the boat for private parties, sometimes with a live jazz band!
Over the years, the boat was improved. Its wooden floor was replaced with a stronger steel deck. An electrical generator was added. This meant they could power DJ parties and keep drinks cold with refrigeration.
In 2010, Tower Belle celebrated its 90th birthday! There was a special boat trip to mark the occasion. The Lord Mayor of Bristol, Colin Smith, was there. He cut a cake and said how amazing it was that the boat was still around. He also noted how popular these boats had become again in the city docks.
How Tower Belle Works
Tower Belle uses a diesel engine to power a single propeller. This propeller pushes the boat through the water.
Here are some facts about its size:
- Its total length is about 67.97 ft (20.72 m).
- It is about 13 ft (4.0 m) wide.
- The part of the boat under the water (called the draught) is about 2.83 ft (0.86 m) deep.
- The height of the boat above the water (called the air draught) is about 12 ft (3.7 m).
The boat is allowed to carry up to 95 passengers. For safety, it has life rings, inflatable life rafts, and life jackets. There is also a small bar and toilets on board for passengers.
