Dartmouth Higher Ferry
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The Dartmouth Higher Ferry is a vehicular chain ferry which crosses the River Dart in the English county of Devon. The ferry crosses the tidal river from Dartmouth to Kingswear. The ferry is owned and operated by the Dartmouth - Kingswear Floating Bridge Company. The current ferry boat, named No. 7, was built in 1960 and can carry up to 18 cars. It is unusual in that although it uses chains for guidance, it is actually propelled by paddle wheels.[1]
The Higher Ferry is one of two car ferries which cross the River Dart between Dartmouth and Kingswear. The other ferry, known as the Dartmouth Lower Ferry, does not use chain guidance or propulsion.
[edit] History
The Floating Bridge was authorised by Act of Parliament in 1830.[2] Because it was making a loss it was suspended in 1855 but reinsted the following year with a new ferry. It was steam powered from 1831 to 1835 but then worked by hand or horses until 1867 when a steam engine again powered the ferry. It was closed again in 1874 and reopened in 1876 with a new ferry.
[edit] References
- ^ Hall, Nick. "Chained links", Ships Monthly, IPC Country & Leisure Media, November 2006, pp. 17-21.
- ^ Potts, C R (1998). The Newton Abbot to Kingswear Railway (1844 - 1988). Oxford: Oakwood Press. ISBN 0-853613-87-7.
[edit] See also
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