Ullswater 'Steamers' facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Ullswater 'Steamers'

Type	Private company
Industry	Passenger transportation Leisure cruises
Founded	1855
Headquarters	Glenridding, Cumbria
Area served	Ullswater

Ullswater 'Steamers' is a boat company that offers fun trips on Ullswater. This beautiful lake is in the north-eastern part of England's amazing Lake District. The company is based in Glenridding, Cumbria.

It started way back in 1855. Today, Ullswater 'Steamers' has five boats that run on diesel power. They travel between four different spots on the lake. Guess what? The oldest boat in their group was launched in 1877!

History of the Steamers

Steamer at Howtown Pier around 1890-1900

The company began in 1855 as the Ullswater Steam Navigation Company. At first, their boats helped move mail, workers, and goods. They traveled between the Greenside Mine in Glenridding and the village of Pooley Bridge. These two places are at opposite ends of the lake.

On August 13, 1859, the company launched its first special boat. It was a paddle steamer named Enterprise. Sadly, this boat later sank in the lake. In 1877, they introduced a new steam-powered boat for fun trips. It was called the Lady of the Lake. Then, in 1889, the Raven joined the fleet. Amazingly, both the Lady of the Lake and the Raven are still used today!

Changes and Challenges

In 1900, the company changed its name to the Ullswater Navigation and Transit Company. In the 1930s, they updated their boats. The Lady of the Lake and the Raven used to run on steam. They were changed to use diesel engines instead.

In 1954, a man named Sir Wavell Wakefield bought a big part of the company. He did this to stop it from closing down. The company is still owned by his family today.

In 2001, Ullswater 'Steamers' started offering trips all year round. Before this, they only operated during the summer tourist season. Between 2001 and 2010, three more boats joined the fleet. These were the Lady Dorothy, Lady Wakefield, and Western Belle. All three boats used to work in saltwater. They were brought to the lake by road. In 2015, the company opened a brand new boat stop at Aira Force.

Stormy Times

At the end of 2015, some big storms hit Cumbria. These included Desmond, Eva, and Frank. The storms caused problems for the company. The Lady Wakefield was tied up at Pooley Bridge Pier. During Storm Desmond, she broke free and was damaged by the pier. To save her from sinking, she was purposely driven onto the shore.

The same storm also destroyed the bridge at Pooley Bridge. This cut off the village from the pier. The pier and the ticket office in Glenridding also got flooded. But the company worked hard to recover! By Easter 2016, boat services started again. A new bridge was built, and the Lady Wakefield was put back in the water in May. She then went for repairs.

How the Steamers Operate

Ullswater 'Steamers' currently has five boats. They run from four different boat stops on Ullswater. These stops are at Glenridding, Pooley Bridge, Howtown, and Aira Force.

The company offers two main routes. One route goes the whole length of the lake. It connects Glenridding, Howtown, and Pooley Bridge. The second, shorter route connects Glenridding and Aira Force. How often the boats run depends on the time of year. In summer, they can run almost every hour on both routes.

Besides their regular trips, you can also rent the company's boats. They are great for private events and parties on Ullswater!

Part of a Bigger Family

The Ullswater 'Steamers' company is part of a larger group called Lake District Estates. This group also owns the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway. This is a small, 7 miles (11.3 km) long heritage railway on the western side of the Lake District. Lake District Estates also owns other places for tourists in the area. Lord Wakefield's family still controls this group.

The boats are kept in good shape at a special place called a slipway. This slipway is at the Waterside Campsite, which is also owned by Lake District Estates. It's near Pooley Bridge.

Meet the Fleet

Here are the amazing boats that make up the Ullswater 'Steamers' fleet:

Name	Built	Acquired	Passenger Capacity	Description	Image
Lady of the Lake	1877	1877	110	The M.Y. Lady of the Lake was launched on June 26, 1877. Many people believe she is one of the oldest working passenger ferries in the world! She was designed by Douglas Henson from Penrith. She was built by T.B. Seath & Co. near Glasgow. Then, she was brought to Waterside, put together, and launched. In 1881, the Lady of the Lake sank where she was tied up. But a team of divers helped her float again. In 1936, she was changed from steam to diesel power. She sank again in 1958 during a bad storm, but was floated once more. In 1965, the boat was badly damaged by fire. She was out of service for 14 years! Lord Wakefield helped restore her. She was relaunched on May 19, 1979, by William Whitelaw. She is now a member of the National Historic Fleet.	The Lady of the Lake
Raven	1889	1889	150	The M.Y. Raven was launched on July 11, 1889. She was built because Ullswater was becoming very popular with tourists. She was named after Ravencragg, a lakeside home. This home belonged to William Hugh Parkin, who was a director of the company. In 1912, the Raven became a temporary royal yacht! This happened when the German Emperor Wilhelm II visited Ullswater. He was staying with the 5th Earl of Lonsdale. For the special visit, her decks were painted yellow, which was the Earl's favorite color. In 1934, the Raven was changed from steam power. She was fitted with two diesel engines. She is the biggest boat in the fleet and is also a member of the National Historic Fleet.	The Raven
Western Belle	1934	2008	100	The M.V. Western Belle is a passenger boat with two propellers. She was built by Fellows & Co in Great Yarmouth in 1934. She first worked on the River Tamar and River Yealm near Plymouth. In 1980, she moved to the River Dart. There, she worked on the ferry route from Dartmouth to Kingswear. In 2005, she moved to Hampton Court on the River Thames. Ullswater 'Steamers' bought her in 2008. She started working on Ullswater in the autumn of 2010.	The Western Belle
Lady Wakefield	1949	2006	90	The M.V. Lady Wakefield was built by Philip and Son in Dartmouth in 1949. She also first worked on the River Dart. Her original name was the Berry Castle. From 1972, she worked at Fareham and Rochester. Then, in 1977, she returned to the Dart and was named Totnes Castle. In 1985, she moved again to work on Plymouth Sound. In 2006, Ullswater 'Steamers' bought her and fixed her up. Princess Alexandra relaunched her in April 2007. She was given her current name to remember Lord Wakefield's wife. During Storm Desmond in late 2015, the Lady Wakefield was tied up at Pooley Bridge Pier. She was damaged by the pier. To stop her from sinking, she was purposely driven onto the shore. She was put back in the water in May 2016 and went for repairs.	The Lady Wakefield
Lady Dorothy	1967	2001	40	The M.V. Lady Dorothy is the smallest boat in the company's fleet. She was originally a sea-going vessel from Guernsey. She joined the fleet in 2001. She is the main boat used for trips between Aira Force Pier and Glenridding.	The Lady Dorothy

Images for kids

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  Glenridding Pier, with Lady Wakefield and Raven

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  The entrance to Glenridding Pier, with Place Fell behind

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  Lady of the Lake at Glenridding.

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  Howtown Pier and steamer seen from Bonscale Pike

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  Raven leaving the jetty at Howtown.

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  Pooley Bridge Pier, with River Eamont outfall to right

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  Lady of the Lake on the slip at Waterside

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  Lady Wakefield beached by Storm Desmond