Local ferries in Suffolk
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=April 2017}}
The ferries in Suffolk are a series of local ferry services in the county of Suffolk in Eastern England. Most cross rivers within the county, and one connects Suffolk with Essex to the south.
{{Location map+ | width=300 | Suffolk
| caption = Local ferries in Suffolk
| places =
{{Location map~ | Suffolk
| label = Bawdsey Ferry
| label_size = 85
| position = right
| lat_deg = 51.9900
| lon_deg = 1.3927 }}
{{Location map~ | Suffolk
| label = Butley Ferry
| label_size = 85
| position = left
| lat_deg = 52.0803
| lon_deg = 1.4903 }}
{{Location map~ | Suffolk
| label = Harwich Harbour Ferry
| link = Harwich Harbour Ferry
| label_size = 85
| position = left
| lat_deg = 51.946
| lon_deg = 1.304 }}
{{Location map~ | Suffolk
| label = Southwold to Walberswick Ferry
| label_size = 85
| position = left
| lat_deg = 52.3168
| lon_deg = 1.6671 }}
}}
Bawdsey Ferry
File:RiverDebenChainFerry TheLadyBeatrice (1894).jpg
Bawdsey Ferry carries foot passengers and bicycles across the mouth of the River Deben between Felixstowe Ferry and Bawdsey and provides continuity for the Suffolk Coast Path and Regional Cycle Route 41. It operates from Easter weekend until the end of October on a varying timetable,{{cite web|url=http://www.onesuffolk.co.uk/ESTAFelixstowe/Footferries/|title=Felixstowe Travel Watch – Foot and Cycle Ferries|accessdate=2011-01-23|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110304221522/http://www.onesuffolk.co.uk/ESTAFelixstowe/Footferries/|archivedate=4 March 2011|df=dmy-all}} and can also be used as a water taxi to moored yachts.{{cite web|url=http://www.simplonpc.co.uk/Suffolk.html#anchor150349|title=Felixstowe Ferry-Bawdsey – River Deben|accessdate=2007-12-27}}
{{Infobox UK legislation
| short_title = Felixstowe and Bawdsey Ferry Railway Act 1887
| type = Act
| parliament = Parliament of the United Kingdom
| long_title = An Act for incorporating a company and authorising them to make and maintain certain railways between Felixstowe and Felixstowe (otherwise Bawdsey) Ferry in the county of Suffolk and for other purposes.
| year = 1887
| citation = 50 & 51 Vict. c. xxvi
| introduced_commons =
| introduced_lords =
| territorial_extent =
| royal_assent = 23 May 1887
| commencement =
| expiry_date =
| repeal_date =
| amends =
| replaces =
| amendments =
| repealing_legislation = Felixstowe and Bawdsey Ferry Railway (Abandonment) Act 1892
| related_legislation =
| status = repealed
| legislation_history =
| theyworkforyou =
| millbankhansard =
| original_text = https://books.google.com/books?id=JGU1AQAAMAAJ&pg=RA23-PA1
| revised_text =
| use_new_UK-LEG =
| UK-LEG_title =
| collapsed = yes
}}
{{Infobox UK legislation
| short_title = Felixstowe and Bawdsey Ferry Railway (Extension of Time) Act 1890
| type = Act
| parliament = Parliament of the United Kingdom
| long_title = An Act to extend the time for the purchase of Lands for and for the completion of the Felixstowe and Bawdsey Ferry Railway and for other purposes.
| year = 1890
| citation = 53 & 54 Vict. c. xxxv
| introduced_commons =
| introduced_lords =
| territorial_extent =
| royal_assent = 22 May 1890
| commencement =
| expiry_date =
| repeal_date =
| amends =
| replaces =
| amendments =
| repealing_legislation = Felixstowe and Bawdsey Ferry Railway (Abandonment) Act 1892
| related_legislation =
| status = repealed
| legislation_history =
| theyworkforyou =
| millbankhansard =
| original_text =
| revised_text =
| use_new_UK-LEG =
| UK-LEG_title =
| collapsed = yes
}}
{{Infobox UK legislation
| short_title = Felixstowe and Bawdsey Ferry Railway (Abandonment) Act 1892
| type = Act
| parliament = Parliament of the United Kingdom
| long_title = An Act for the abandonment of the Railways authorised by the Felixstowe and Bawdsey Ferry Railway Act 1887.
| year = 1892
| citation = 55 & 56 Vict. c. xvi
| introduced_commons =
| introduced_lords =
| territorial_extent =
| royal_assent = 20 May 1892
| commencement =
| expiry_date =
| repeal_date =
| amends =
| replaces =
| amendments =
| repealing_legislation = Statute Law (Repeals) Act 2013
| related_legislation =
| status = repealed
| legislation_history =
| theyworkforyou =
| millbankhansard =
| original_text = https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukla/Vict/55-56/16/pdfs/ukla_18920016_en.pdf
| revised_text =
| use_new_UK-LEG =
| UK-LEG_title =
| collapsed = yes
}}
Prior to 1894 the small passenger boats ran ferry trips. In 1894 Sir William Quilter, owner of Bawdsey Manor, established a steam-drawn chain ferry which the family owned until 1931. From 1931 until the start of WW2 Charlie Brinkley then operated a launch for passengers with his son Robert (senior).{{cite web|url=http://www.simplonpc.co.uk/Felixstowe-Ferry.html|title=
Felixstowe-Bawdsey Ferry|accessdate=2007-12-27}} Bawdsey Manor was purchased by the RAF in 1936 to become RAF Bawdsey{{cite web|url=http://www.suffolkcam.co.uk/bawdsey27072002.htm|title=A walk around Bawdsey|accessdate=2007-12-27|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517211620/http://www.suffolkcam.co.uk/bawdsey27072002.htm|archivedate=17 May 2008|df=dmy-all}} and the ferry was closed to the public during WW2. After the end of the war a daily service was operated until 1974 under contract to RAF Bawdsey and since 1974 it has operated on summer weekends only. The Bawdsey Ferry is mentioned in three acts of Parliament, the {{visible anchor|Felixstowe and Bawdsey Ferry Railway Act 1887}} (50 & 51 Vict. c. xxvi),{{cite web|url=http://apps2.suffolk.gov.uk/cgi-bin/committee_xml.cgi?p=doc&id=1_5785&format=html|title=Rights of Way Sub-Committee – 26 May 2004|accessdate=2007-12-27|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811154311/http://apps2.suffolk.gov.uk/cgi-bin/committee_xml.cgi?p=doc&id=1_5785&format=html|archivedate=11 August 2011|df=dmy-all}} the {{visible anchor|Felixstowe and Bawdsey Ferry Railway (Extension of Time) Act 1890}} (53 & 54 Vict. c. xxxv){{cite web|url=http://www.uk-legislation.hmso.gov.uk/chron-tables/local/chron095.htm|title=Acts of the Parliaments of the United Kingdom – Part 95 (1890a)|accessdate=2007-12-27}} and the {{visible anchor|Felixstowe and Bawdsey Ferry Railway (Abandonment) Act 1892}} (55 & 56 Vict. c. xvi){{cite web|url=http://www.opsi.gov.uk/chron-tables/local/chron092.htm|title=Acts of the Parliaments of the United Kingdom – Part 92 (1887)|accessdate=2007-12-27}}
Butley Ferry
A small ferry operates across the River Butley for foot passengers and for cyclists using Regional Cycle Route 41. It is operated by volunteers on weekends and bank holidays during the summer. It is the smallest licensed ferry in Europe.{{cite web|url=http://www.simplonpc.co.uk/Orford.html#anchor161677|title=Orford – Ferries, Excursion Boats, Quays|accessdate=2007-12-27}}{{cite web|url=http://homepage.ntlworld.com/ron.strutt/rrncn4.html |title=Rural rides - The Suffolk Coastal Cycle Route |accessdate=2007-12-27 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071019023844/http://homepage.ntlworld.com/ron.strutt/rrncn4.html |archivedate=19 October 2007 }}
Harwich Harbour Ferry
{{main|Harwich Harbour Ferry}}
Operates across the River Stour and River Orwell running between Harwich Quay and Landguard Fort near to the Port of Felixstowe and also to Shotley Gate on the Shotley Peninsula (summer only).
Southwold to Walberswick Ferry
The Southwold to Walberswick ferry across the River Blyth uses a traditional rowing boat. In 2017 it operated daily from the start of April to the first week of November, other than most of May and October when it ran on weekends only.{{cite web|url=http://www.explorewalberswick.co.uk/ferry.php|title=Southwold–Walberswick Ferry|accessdate=2018-01-04}}
Until 1885 a rowing ferry was used when a floating bridge chain ferry was started, initially hand-cranked ferry later being replaced by a steam ferry which ran until 1942 after improvements to the harbour made operation of the ferry too difficult. Frank Palmer then restarted the old rowing ferry and was succeeded by Bob Cross and David Church.
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
=Bawdsey Ferry=
- [http://www.walkingbritain.co.uk/destination/area/suffolk_coasts_and_heaths_aonb.php Suffolk]
- [http://www.simplonpc.co.uk/Felixstowe-Ferry.html Felixstowe-Bawdsey Ferry]
- [http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&time=&date=&ttype=&ie=UTF8&ll=51.985303,1.396894&spn=0.025161,0.069866&z=14&om=1 Google Map]
=Butley Ferry=
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20071019023844/http://homepage.ntlworld.com/ron.strutt/rrncn4.html Rural rides - The Suffolk Coastal Cycle Route]
- [http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&time=&date=&ttype=&ie=UTF8&ll=52.080614,1.492682&spn=0.025108,0.069866&z=14&om Google Map]
=Harwich Harbour Ferry=
- [http://www.harwichharbourferry.com/ Official site for Harwich Harbour Ferry]
- [http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&time=&date=&ttype=&q=bawdsey&ie=UTF8&ll=51.953364,1.297245&spn=0.050359,0.139732&z=13&om=1 Google Map]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20080602003051/http://www.harwich.net/foot.htm Harwich, Felixstowe and Shotley Foot Ferry Society]
{{coord|51|56|22|N|1|18|17|E|name=Harwich Harbour Ferry}}
=Southwold to Walberswick Ferry=
- [http://www.explorewalberswick.co.uk/ferry.php Explore Walberswick - Ferry sailing times and prices]
- [http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&time=&date=&ttype=&q=bawdsey&ie=UTF8&ll=52.316245,1.673183&spn=0.024975,0.069866&z=14&om=1 Google Map]