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Hayling Ferry
 
Eastney (Portsmouth) - Hayling Island
 
 
The Hayling ferry runs from Ferry Point near the Ferry Boat Inn on Hayling Island to Eastney Beach, Portsmouth, across the mouth of Langstone Harbour. This is one of a series of Simplon web pages showing the ferries and excursion ships of the UK, and has no connection with the ferry operators of the Hayling Ferry. The ferry ceased operations in March 2015 although there are plans to re-open it.
 
The rights to run a ferry belonged to the Lord of the Manor of Hayling Island, the Dukes of Norfolk, to whom the land had passed on the dissolution of the monasteries. Rowing boats were used until 1901 when the the ferry rights were bought by the Hayling Island Steam Ferry Company, who constructed pontoons, made up the road on the Hayling side, and acquired a small steamer. The service was soon abandoned due to the unsuitability of the steamer. The pontoons survived, and eventually a motor boat service was operated by G.O.Spraggs and his sons Cecil, George and Jack. Post-war boats were the Sinah, Folkestone Belle and Tarpon.
 
Brian Read writes: My father Tom Read was one of the Coxswains on the Hayling Ferries from 1954 until 1956, the other coxswain was John King who lived in a small cottage on the Eastney side. The Ferry was owned by Cecil Spraggs, George Spraggs and Alan Spraggs, I also worked there in 1955 while waiting to enter the Merchant Navy as a boy. One of my jobs was to light the paraffin lamps as there was no electricity on the pontoons. There were three boats, two on service and one would be maintained in the boat shed. They were the Sinah, the Folkestone Belle and the Tarpon. Cecil was the engineer, and would make most of the items needed to keep the boats running. He was very ingenious and made various other things like a three pronged spear gun which he would use to catch the Mullet swimming round the pontoons.
 
In 1961 Portsmouth City Council took the ferry over. I am not sure what boat they used initially, but by the late 1970s they ran the Iris of 1968, which carried 55 passengers. She was joined by the Irene of 1976. Portsmouth City Council operated the ferry until April 1981, when it closed, no other operator having been found. The pontoons were in poor condition by this time, and the Eastney pontoon was removed (and is believed to be in use near Warsash). However Hampshire County Council soon found a company who would take over the service, with subsidy for unprofitable periods. Dutfield and Edwards started the new service, initially used the Hayling Enterprise and running onto the beach at Portsmouth until a new pontoon was built (the Hayling pontoon has also been replaced). The current boat is the Pride of Hayling. The service runs 360 days a year, with a break over Christmas/New Year, and carries large numbers of commuters and school children, plus tourists in summer. The ferry ceased operations in March 2015 although there are plans to re-open it.  
 
If you can supply any more details on the Hayling ferries, particularly service dates of the various boats, please email: simplon@simplon.co.uk
 
 
Contact:-
www.haylingferry.co.uk - website of previous operator which ceased operations in 2015 
 
Sections on this Page:-
Early Hayling Ferries
Pride of Hayling - Edwards & Co: 1989-
2006/2007 Timetable
Other Pictures
 
Boats on this Page:-
Folkestone Belle
Hayling Enterprise (1979) - Edwards & Co
Irene (1976-1981) - Portsmouth City Council
Iris (1968-1981) - Portsmouth City Council
Pride of Hayling (1989- ) - Edwards & Co
Sinah (2)
Sinah (1)
Southsea Belle
Tarpon
 
Associated Pages:-
UK Excursion Ships
Ferry Postcards
Cruise Ship Postcards
Ocean Liner Postcards
Simplon Postcards - Recent Updates
Simplon Postcards - Home Page
 
References:-
www.haylingferry.co.uk - official Hayling ferry site
www.hayling.co.uk - local site
www.havant.gov.uk - Havant Borough Council site
www.langstoneharbour.org.uk - Langstone Harbour site
 
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Early Hayling Ferries
 
 
 
Unidentified Hayling ferry at the Hayling pontoon
Scan: Bill Seager
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Sinah (1)
 
Whilst the unusual ferry with the tall funnel has been identified as the Sinah, the open launch below is also clearly named Sinah. A book on Hayling Island describes this photo as 1930s.
 
 
Chapman postcard 12172 of the Hayling ferry Sinah
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Valentine postcard of the Hayling ferry - maybe the Sinah from card above?
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Sinah (2) (Built: 1909)
 
The Sinah (2) was one of the boats used by the Spraggs in the 1950s.
 
 
Postcard of the Hayling ferry Sinah
Michael Sutcliffe writes:- I lived in Hayling Island in the late 1940's and early 50's and travelled on this ferry, with my bicycle, many times. My father was in the Marines at Eastney. I think the vessel in the
photo is the 'Sinah', and I well-remember the two stacks of life belts on the stern. Bicycles, and any other 'cargo' , were placed on a raised deck aft of the funnel - where the railing is in the photograph.
Other ferries were brought into service on bank holidays etc. and when 'Sinah' was being serviced. The name Spraggs rings a bell - their vessels had grey hulls and red boot-topping.
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D.Constance postcard of the Hayling ferry Sinah approaching, with Tarpon on the inside berth.
Posted 1980.
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D.Constance postcard of the Hayling ferry Sinah approaching, with Tarpon on the inside berth.
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Langstone postcard including the Hayling ferry Sinah, posted 1955.
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Salmon postcard of the Hayling ferry, Sinah on the inside berth.
The ferry leaving appears to be the Iris of 1968 or Irene of 1976, the last ferries used by Portsmouth City Council
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Tarpon
 
The Tarpon was one of the boats used by the Spraggs in the 1950s.
 
 
Hayling ferry Tarpon approaching Hayling pontoon
Scan: Bill Seager
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Hayling ferry Tarpon approaching Hayling pontoon
Enlarged image from card above - Scan: Bill Seager
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D.Constance postcard of the Hayling ferry Sinah approaching, with Tarpon on the inside berth.
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D.Constance postcard of the Hayling ferry Sinah approaching, with Tarpon on the inside berth.
Posted 1980.
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Folkestone Belle (1928)
Southsea Belle
 
The Folkestone Belle was one of the boats used by the Spraggs in the 1950s. Folkestone Belle also worked for Portsmouth City Council when they took over services in 1961. She later ran from Portsmouth for M.G.Pearce as Southsea Belle.
 
 
Valentine postcard of the Hayling ferry Folkestone Belle.
Tony Creswell writes:- ET 2290 headed The Ferry, Hayling Island is the "FOLKESTONE BELLE" dating from 1928 and did a trip to Dunkirk to bring some of the troops. It is now called
the "SOUTHSEA BELLE" and is at present up for sale. I have a photograph of her as the SB in the Camber Portsmouth, when engaged on cruises around Portsmouth Harbour.
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Photo Precision postcard of the Hayling ferry Folkestone Belle.
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Iris (1968-1981)
Irene (1976-1981)
 
Iris and Irene were the last ferries used by Portsmouth City Council, until closure of the route in 1981. Irene was of similar design to J.Butsher's Paul James, used at Portsmouth.
 
 
Salmon postcard of the Hayling ferry Iris, Sinah on the inside berth.
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Hayling Enterprise
(Edwards & Co: 1985?-2001)
 
Hayling Enterprise was the first ferry used by Edwards when ferry services were resumed in 1985(?). She had been built in 1979, was 41 feet long, 11 gross tons, and could carry 50 passengers. Hayling Enterprise was sold in 2001.
 
 
Fincom postcard HAY101 of the Hayling ferry Hayling Enterprise.
The boat was designed to run onto the beach, since the Eastney pontoon had been demolished
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Pride of Hayling
(Edwards & Co: 1989- )
 
Pride of Hayling was built locally in 1989, based on an Australian design. She is made of aluminium, and weighs 11 gross tons. She received a major refit in December 2005. Her passenger certificates are 65 with a two-man crew, and 11 with one-man operation.
 
 
Pride of Hayling at Eastney
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th July 2006
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Pride of Hayling at Ferry Point, Hayling Island
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th July 2006
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Pride of Hayling leaving Ferry Point, Hayling Island
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th July 2006
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Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th July 2006
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Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th July 2006
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Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th July 2006
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Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th July 2006
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Pride of Hayling approaching Eastney
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th July 2006
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Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th July 2006
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Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th July 2006
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Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th July 2006
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Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th July 2006
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Timetables
 
For current timetable see:- www.haylingferry.com
 
 
Summer 2006 and Winter 2006/2007 Hayling Island timetables
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th July 2006
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Other Pictures
 
Hayling Island from Eastney
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th July 2006
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Ferry pontoon at Hayling Island
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th July 2006
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Ferry pontoon at Hayling Island
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th July 2006
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Ferry Boat Inn at Hayling Island
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th July 2006
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Ferry Boat Inn at Hayling Island
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th July 2006
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Langstone Harbour authority workboat Delilah
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th July 2006
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RNLI lifeboat house at Eastney with visiting Routemaster
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th July 2006
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Wrecked WW2 Mulberry harbour section in Langstone Harbour
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th July 2006
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Hayling Island and Langstone Harbour
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th July 2006
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Hayling Island beach and entrance to Langstone Harbour
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th July 2006
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Entrance to Langstone Harbour
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th July 2006
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Ferry pontoon at Eastney
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th July 2006
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Ferry pontoon at Eastney
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th July 2006
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