There are currently three different ferry companies that operate vessels carrying passengers and, on certain routes, vehicles across the Solent, the stretch of sea that separates the Isle of Wight from mainland England. These are Wightlink, Red Funnel and Hovertravel.

The Hovertravel fleet at Ryde.

History

Early sail crossings

Since the Isle of Wight was separated from mainland Britain, probably about 7000 years ago,[1] vessels have transported people and goods across the Solent. However the earliest record of an Isle of Wight ferry service is from 1420 when the Lord of the Manor in Ashey was responsible for boats crossing between Portsmouth and Ryde. By the 17th century a rota of Ryde fishermen were required, on penalty of a fine, to make daily return crossings to Portsmouth.[2]

In 1796 a purpose-built sailing boat called The Packet began a regular service between Portsmouth and Ryde, and by 1811 two daily return trips were made between the Bugle Inn in Ryde and the Quebec Tavern in Portsmouth.[2] At that time the boats, known as Ryde Wherries,[2] had to anchor a considerable distance away from the shore at Ryde, and passengers were transported by horse, cart or on men's backs across the wide and shallow sands to the town.[3] This problem was resolved in 1814 when Ryde Pier was completed.

The introduction of steam power

In 1817 the first steamship ferry, Britannia, began to operate on the Portsmouth–Ryde route,[2] but she was found to be unsuitable for her role and quickly withdrawn. The first successful steam-powered regular service on the route began on 5 April 1825 with the paddle steamer PS Union. Meanwhile, in 1820 the paddle steamer PS Prince of Coburg had begun a service between Cowes and Southampton.[4]

The success of the paddle steamers prompted a period of company formation. In 1827 the Portsmouth and Ryde Steam Packet Company (P&RSPC) was formed and took over the running of the PS Union. This was followed in 1849 by the Portsea, Portsmouth, Gosport and Isle of Wight Steam Packet Company (PPG&IWSPC) operating on the same route. These amalgamated on 1 January 1852 as the Port of Portsmouth and Ryde United Steam Packet Company (PP&RUSPC). In 1873 the Southsea and Isle of Wight Steam Ferry Company (S&IWSFC) began operating between Clarence Pier, Southsea and Ryde but was quickly taken over by the PP&RUSPC in 1876.[5]

On the Southampton – Cowes route the Isle of Wight Royal Mail Steam Packet Company (IWRMSPC) was formed in 1820 and the Isle of Wight Steam Packet Company (IWSPC) in 1826. These merged in 1861, becoming the Southampton, Isle of Wight & South of England Royal Mail Steam Packet Company (IW&SERMSPC).[4] This company became commonly known as Red Funnel in 1935 and is still operating in 2021.

On the Western Solent, the first steam connection between Lymington and Yarmouth was by the Glasgow in March 1830, operated by Lymington owners and continuing also to Cowes, Southampton, Ryde and Portsmouth on various days.[2]

The era of railway ownership

By 1880 railway lines connected to both the Ryde Pier and the Portsmouth Harbour ferry terminals. It was therefore a natural progression for the railway companies to acquire the ferry routes themselves. To do this the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway (LB&SCR) and the London and South Western Railway (L&SWR) jointly formed the South Western and Brighton Railway Companies Steam Packet Service (SW&BRCSPS).[6] This new company bought out the PP&RUSPC and the era of railway ownership of the Ryde Portsmouth route began.

In 1884 the Isle of Wight Marine Transit Company started a rail freight ferry link between the Hayling Island Branch line at Langstone and the Bembridge branch line at St Helens quay. To provide the link the rail ferry PS Carrier was moved from Scotland. The project was unsuccessful and despite being acquired in full by the LB&SCR in 1886 ended in 1888.[6] It remains the only rail ferry to have operated a service to the Isle of Wight.

In 1884 the Lymington service was bought by the L&SWR.[4]

In addition to paddle steamers, the SW&BRCSPS used tow boats and a tug to carry livestock and subsequently motor cars from Broad Street, Portsmouth to the slipway at George Street, Ryde.[6]

During the First World War four of the SW&BRCSPS paddle steamers were commandeered by the Royal Navy as minesweepers, leaving only two behind. The PS Duchess of Richmond was lost to a mine in the Mediterranean Sea.[6]

On 1 January 1923 the SW&BRCSPS was taken over by Southern Railway which had been created in the Grouping ordered by the Railways Act 1921.[5]

Present Day

Three commercial ferry operators currently provide services across the Solent. These are Hovertravel, Red Funnel and Wightlink. A list of routes is described below.[7]

Route Operator Type of craft Journey time
Southsea to Ryde Hovertravel Hovercraft 10 minutes
Portsmouth to Ryde Wightlink Catamaran 22 minutes
Portsmouth to Fishbourne Wightlink Car Ferry 45 minutes
Southampton to West Cowes Red Funnel Catamaran 25 minutes
Southampton to East Cowes Red Funnel Car Ferry 1 hour
Lymington to Yarmouth Wightlink Car Ferry 40 minutes

Vessels

Name Type† Operator(s)†† Route(s)††† In service Out of service Notes Image
PS Brittania
PPR1817Built in Gainsborough, Lincs, in 1816. Unsuccessful experiment with steam power. Quickly withdrawn from service
PS UnionPP&RSPCPR1825
PS ArrowPP&RSPCPR1825
PS Lord YarboroughPP&RSPCPR1826
PS Earl SpencerPP&RSPCPR1833
Prince AlbertPPR1847
Her MajestyPPR1850
LindseyPPR1850
Prince of WalesPPR1850
Princess RoyalPPR1850
Prince ConsortPPP&RUSPC, SW&BRCSPSPR18591882Built by J. Scott Russel, London
Princess of WalesPPP&RUSPC, SW&BRCSPSPR18651885Built by Lewis & Stockwell, London
GarelochPPR1863
ChancellorPPR1863
Duke of EdinburghPPP&RUSPC, SW&BRCSPSPR18691884Built by Money, Wigram Co, Blackwall
Princess AlicePPP&RUSPC, SW&BRCSPSPR18691882Built by Money, Wigram Co, Blackwall
VentnorPPR1873
ShanklinPPR1873
SouthseaPPR1873
RydePPR1873
Heather BellPPR1876
Albert EdwardPPR1878
AlexandraPPR1879
VictoriaPPR1881
PS CarrierRIWMTC, LB&SCRLS18841888Built in 1858 by Scotts Shipbuilding and Engineering Co, Greenock. Failed rail ferry project. Sold in 1892 to Swedish company.
Duchess of EdinburghPPR1884
Duchess of ConnaughtPPR1884
Duchess of AlbanyPPR1889
Princess MargaretPPR1893
Duchess of KentPSW&BRCSPS, SRPR18971933Built by Day, Summers & Co, Southampton. Served as Royal Navy minesweeper in First World War. Replaced by PS Sandown
Duchess of FifePSW&BRCSPS, SRPR18991929Built by Clydebank Engineering & Shipbuilding Co, Glasgow. Served as Royal Navy minesweeper in First World War
Duchess of RichmondPSW&BRCSPSPR19101915Built by D&W Henderson, Glasgow. Served as Royal Navy minesweeper in First World War. Mined and sank in Med.
Duchess of NorfolkPSW&BRCSPS, SRPR19111937Built by D&W Henderson, Glasgow. Served as Royal Navy minesweeper in First World War
ShanklinPPR19241950Sold to Cosens & Co Ltd and renamed Monarch
As Monarch at Swanage Pier
MerstonePPR1928
PortsdownPPR1928
SouthseaPPR1930
WhippinghamPPR1930
SandownPPR1934
Sandown and Ryde at Portsmouth Harbour 15 July 1965
PS RydePPSSR, BRPR19371970Built by Denny in Dumbarton
In Portsmouth in 1969
SouthseaPPR1948
BradingPPR1948
TSMV ShanklinPSLPR19511980Built by Denny in Dumbarton. Renamed Prince Ivanhoe and sank off Welsh coast in 1981
Shanklin
HSC Our Lady PatriciaPCSL / WLPR19862006
HSC Our Lady PamelaPCSL / WLPR19862006
HSC Fastcat ShanklinPCWLPR20002009
HSC Fastcat RydePCWLPR20002010
HSC Fastcat Ryde in 2002
MV Fishbourne (1927)VPPF19271961Built by Denny in Dumbarton[8]
MV WootonVPPF19281961Built by Denny in Dumbarton[8]
HilseaVPPF1931
MV LymingtonVPPF1938Built by Denny in Dumbarton
FarringfordVPPF1948
FreshwaterVPPF1959
Camber QueenVPPF1961
MV Fishbourne (1961)VPPF19611983Built by Philip & Son in Dartmouth[8]
MV CuthredVPSLPF19691984Built by Richards (Shipbuilders) Ltd in Lowestoft
ShearwaterPHRFSC19691973
Shearwater 2PHRFSC19701971
Shearwater 3PHRFSC19721992
Shearwater 4PHRFSC19731992
Shearwater 5PHRFSC19821999
MV CaedmonVPSL / WLPF(1973) / LY(1983)19732009Built by Robb Caledon in Dundee
MV Caedmon
MV CenwulfVPSL / WLPF(1973) / LY(1983)19732009Built by Robb Caledon in Dundee
MV Cenwulf
MV CenredVPSL / WLPF(1974) / LY(1983)19742009Built by Robb Caledon in Dundee
MV Cenred
MV St CatherineVPSL / WLPF19832010
MV St Catherine in 2008
MV St HelenVPSL / WLPF19832015
MV St Helen in 2008
MV St CeciliaVPSL / WLPF19872019Built by Cochrane Shipbuilders in Selby
MV St Cecilia in 2008
MV St FaithVPWLPF1990Built by Cochrane Shipbuilders in Selby
MV St ClareVPWLPF2001
MV St Clare in 2003
PS GemPIWSPC, RFSC18401883Built by J. White, Cowes. Scrapped in 1889.
PS RubyPIWRMSPC, RFSC18411872Built by Day, Summers & Co. Northam for the South Western & Isle of Wight Steam Navigation Co as 'The Pride of the Waters'
PS PearlPIWRMSPC, RFSC18441867Built by Day, Summers & Co. Northam. Scrapped in 1875
PS Queen (I)PIWRMSPC, RFSC18481876Built by Day, Summers & Co. Northam.
PS Prince of CoburgPIWSPCSC1820Built in Gainsborough, Lincs, in 1817
Earl of MalmsburyPIWSPCSC
George IVPIWSPCSC
PS Medina (I)PIWRMSPC, RFSC18521882Built by J. White, Cowes as The Times
PS EmeraldPIWSPC, RFSC18571871Built by Day, Summers & Co. Northam.
PS SaphirePIWSPC, RFSC18601873Built by CA Day. Northam.
MV Carisbrooke CastleVPRFSC19591974Built by J Thornycroft & Co. Ltd in Woolston. Sold to operator in Naples[9]
MV Osborne CastleVPRFSC19621978Built by J Thornycroft & Co. Ltd in Woolston.sold to a Canadian ferry company.
MV Cowes CastleVPRFSC19651994Built by J Thornycroft & Co. Ltd in Woolston.sold to Jadrolinija for service in Croatia.
MV Norris CastleVPRFSC19681994Built by J Thornycroft & Co. Ltd in Woolston.sold to Jadrolinija for service in Croatia.
MV Netley CastleVPRFSC19741997Built by Ryton Marine Ltd in Wallsend. Sold to operator in Croatia[9]
MV Bergen CastleVPRFSC20032005Purchased by Red Funnel to maintain a 3 ship service while the Raptor class where away being refitted
MV Red EagleVPRFSC1996
MV Red Eagle in 2005
MV Red FalconVPRFSC1994
MV Red Falcon in 2009
MV Red OspreyVPRFSC1994
MV Red Osprey in 2009
Red Jet 1PCRFSC19912009
Red Jet 2PCRFSC19922009
Red Jet 3PCRFSC19982019
MV Red Jet 4PCRFSC2003
MV Red Jet 4 in 2006
Red Jet 5PCRFSC20092016
MV Wight LightVPWLLY2009
MV Wight Light in 2008
MV Wight SkyVPWLLY2009
MV Wight Sky in 2009
MV Wight SunVPWLLY2009
Freedom 90HHTSR19902018
Island ExpressHHTSR20022017
Solent ExpressHHTSR20072011The Solent Express was used on Kirkcaldy to Portobello hovercraft passenger trials in 2007.
Solent Express in 2007
Solent FlyerHHTSR2016
Island FlyerHHTSR2016
Red Jet 6 PC RF SC 2016
Red Jet 7 PC RF SC 2018
MV Victoria of WightVPWLPF2018
MV Victoria of Wight in 2018
MV Red Kestrel F RF SC 2019 Operates as a freight only vessel
Key
† Vessel type P = Passenger, VP = Vehicle and passenger, PC = Passenger catamaran, PPS = Passenger paddle steamer, H = Hovercraft, F = Freight, PH = Passenger Hydrofoil
†† Operators RF = Red Funnel, WL = Wightlink, HT = Hovertravel, SL = Sealink, IWSPC = Isle of Wight Steam Packet Company, IWRMSPC = Isle of Wight royal mail steam packet company,
P&RSPC = Portsmouth and Ryde Steam Packet Company, SW&BRCSPS = South Western and Brighton Railway Companies Steam Packet Service, PP&RUSPC = Port of Portsmouth and Ryde United Steam Packet Company,
††† Routes PR = Portsmouth Harbour to Ryde Pier Head, PF = Portsmouth Harbour to Fishbourne, SC = Southampton to Cowes, SR = Southsea to Ryde, LY = Lymington to Yarmouth


References

  1. ↑ "Geology – The Official Isle of Wight Tourism Website". Retrieved 15 August 2011.
  2. ↑ Archer, Lynette; Woodford, John (2003). Ryde Postcards. Stroud, Gloucestershire: Tempus Publishing Limited. p. 11. ISBN 0-7524-2954-X.
  3. 1 2 3 O'Brien, Capt F T O. Early Solent Steamers: A History of Local Steam Navigation.
  4. 1 2 Brown, Alan (1985). Shanklin Ill Fated Prince. Troon: Waverley Excursions Ltd. ISBN 0-9505177-1-2.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Jordan, S (1998). Ferry Services of the London, Brighton & South Coast Railway. Usk: The Oakwood Press. ISBN 0-85361-521-7.
  6. ↑ "Isle of Wight Ferries - VisitIsleOfWight.co.uk". Visit Isle Of Wight. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
  7. 1 2 3 Faulkner, John. The Fishbourne Car Ferry. Colourpoint Books. ISBN 978-1-904242-87-1.
  8. 1 2 "Red Funnel: Vessel Archive 1951–1980". Red Funnel. Retrieved 11 May 2009.

Bibliography

  • Adams, R B (1986). Red Funnel and Before. Southampton, Hampshire: Kingfisher Railway Productions. ISBN 0-946184-21-6.
  • Haws, Duncan (1993). Britain's Railway Steamers: Western & Southern Companies + French & Stena. Hereford: TCL Publications. ISBN 0-946378-21-5.
  • Hendy, John (1993). Wightlink: Isle Of Wight Ferries (2nd ed.). Narberth, Pembrokeshire: Ferry Publications. ISBN 0951309366.
  • Hendy, John (2008). Lymington-Yarmouth: The New Generation. Ramsey, Isle of Man: Ferry Publications. ISBN 9781906608019.
  • Hendy, John (2010). Solent Seaways: Wightlink - Isle of Wight Ferries. Ramsey, Isle of Man: Ferry Publications. ISBN 9781906608118.
  • O'Brien, Capt F T O (1973). Early Solent Steamers: A History of Local Steam Navigation. Newton Abbot, Devon: David & Charles. ISBN 0-7153-5654-2.(covers period up to the 1860s)

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