MV Western Belle
Encyclopedia
The MV Western Belle is a twinscrew
Propeller
A propeller is a type of fan that transmits power by converting rotational motion into thrust. A pressure difference is produced between the forward and rear surfaces of the airfoil-shaped blade, and a fluid is accelerated behind the blade. Propeller dynamics can be modeled by both Bernoulli's...
passenger vessel, presently laid up at Maryport, Cumbria
Cumbria
Cumbria , is a non-metropolitan county in North West England. The county and Cumbria County Council, its local authority, came into existence in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972. Cumbria's largest settlement and county town is Carlisle. It consists of six districts, and in...
, UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. She is owned by Ullswater Transit and Navigation Company (The Ullswater Steamers). It is understood that she is awaiting refit, but it is not known what her intended route will be.
History
Built in 1935 by Fellows & Co of Great YarmouthGreat Yarmouth
Great Yarmouth, often known to locals as Yarmouth, is a coastal town in Norfolk, England. It is at the mouth of the River Yare, east of Norwich.It has been a seaside resort since 1760, and is the gateway from the Norfolk Broads to the sea...
in East Anglia
East Anglia
East Anglia is a traditional name for a region of eastern England, named after an ancient Anglo-Saxon kingdom, the Kingdom of the East Angles. The Angles took their name from their homeland Angeln, in northern Germany. East Anglia initially consisted of Norfolk and Suffolk, but upon the marriage of...
for Millbrook Steamboat & Trading Co Ltd
Millbrook Steamboat & Trading Co Ltd
The Millbrook Steamboat & Trading Company was a ferry operator on the River Tamar in South Devon. It was started in 1894, and initially operated a fery route from Millbrook in Cornwall to Plymouth. It expanded, and eventually became the largest river boat operator in the Plymouth area, until its...
. She was used principally on excursion services from Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
, and also on the Plymouth - Millbrook ferry. Her excursion routes were varied, covering the whole of the River Tamar
River Tamar
The Tamar is a river in South West England, that forms most of the border between Devon and Cornwall . It is one of several British rivers whose ancient name is assumed to be derived from a prehistoric river word apparently meaning "dark flowing" and which it shares with the River Thames.The...
, to the River Yealm
River Yealm
Yealm is a river in Dartmoor in Devon in south-west England. It rises 1,411 feet above sea level on the Stall Moor mires of south Dartmoor and makes a 12 mile journey to the sea, passing through Cornwood, Lee Mill and Yealmpton, before reaching the estuary mouth just below Newton Ferrers and Noss...
, and coastal cruises as far as Looe
Looe
Looe is a small coastal town, fishing port and civil parish in the former Caradon district of south-east Cornwall, England, with a population of 5,280 . Looe is divided in two by the River Looe, East Looe and West Looe being connected by a bridge...
in Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
. During the Second World War she continued to run the Millbrook ferry, and was very busy carrying people from the city to the countryside each night, to avoid the Blitz
The Blitz
The Blitz was the sustained strategic bombing of Britain by Nazi Germany between 7 September 1940 and 10 May 1941, during the Second World War. The city of London was bombed by the Luftwaffe for 76 consecutive nights and many towns and cities across the country followed...
. In 1955 she was briefly charter to British Railways for use on their Dartmouth - Kingswear Passenger Ferry
Dartmouth Ferry
The Dartmouth Ferry, sometimes called the Kingswear Ferry, may refer to one of three ferries that link Dartmouth and Kingswear, on opposite sides of the River Dart in the English county of Devon. From north to south, these ferries are:...
, afterwards she resumed service from Plymouth. In 1985 The Millbrook company, by this point owned by Dart Pleasure Craft Ltd of Dartmouth
Dartmouth, Devon
Dartmouth is a town and civil parish in the English county of Devon. It is a tourist destination set on the banks of the estuary of the River Dart, which is a long narrow tidal ria that runs inland as far as Totnes...
, abandoned its services in Plymouth, mainly due to competition with Plymouth Boat Cruises
Plymouth Boat Cruises
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...
, and the MV Western Belle was transferred to the River Dart
River Dart
The River Dart is a river in Devon, England which rises high on Dartmoor, and releases to the sea at Dartmouth. Its valley and surrounding area is a place of great natural beauty.-Watercourse:...
.
.
She operated on all of the 'River Link' services of Dart Pleasure craft, including Dartmouth-Totnes
Totnes
Totnes is a market town and civil parish at the head of the estuary of the River Dart in Devon, England within the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty...
, the Dartmouth-Kingswear Ferry
Dartmouth Ferry
The Dartmouth Ferry, sometimes called the Kingswear Ferry, may refer to one of three ferries that link Dartmouth and Kingswear, on opposite sides of the River Dart in the English county of Devon. From north to south, these ferries are:...
and circular cruises from Dartmouth.
In 2000 Dart Pleasure Craft took over G.H. Riddalls and Sons
G.H. Riddalls and Sons
G.H. Riddalls and Sons was a passenger boat operator on the River Dart, in South Devon, UK. They operated on the route from Dartmouth to Totnes, on circular cruises from Dartmouth and also ran the ferry service from Dartmouth to Dittisham...
, their main competitor on River Dart services. With the increase in size of the fleet, the MV Western Belle was surplus to requirements and she was sold to Chris Cruises of Hampton Court on the River Thames
River Thames
The River Thames flows through southern England. It is the longest river entirely in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom. While it is best known because its lower reaches flow through central London, the river flows alongside several other towns and cities, including Oxford,...
, where she was used for charters . In 2008, she was sold to Ullswater Transit and Navigation Company and laid up at Maryport in Cumbria. She was then transported to lake Ullswater in July 2010 to start service on the lake in Autumn 2010
The MV Totnes Castle was also bought by this operator. She was transported overland to Ullswater, and became the MV Lady Wakefield in 2007