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Millbrook Steamboat Company
Millbrook Steamboat and Trading Company Ltd
1885-1985
 
 
This page covers the history of the Millbrook Steam Boat & Trading Company, which traces its origins back to 1885 when John Parson bought the steamer Millbrook, for services across the River Tamar from Plymouth to Millbrook. The Millbrook fleet remained independent until 1980, when it was bought by Dart Pleasure Craft, who had replaced the equally historic River Dart Steamboat Company in the mid-1970s. Dart Pleasure Craft then effectively had a monopoly in both the River Dart and Plymouth areas, but aggressive new competition led to their abandonment of the Plymouth area in 1985, concentrating solely on their River Dart operations.
 
Brief History of the Millbrook Steam Boat & Trading Company:-
Millbrook is in Cornwall, separated from the naval city of Plymouth (in Devon) by the River Tamar. The stretch of the River Tamar dividing Devon and Cornwall at this point is known as the Hamoaze. John Parson of Millbrook acquired the steamer Millbrook, a wooden paddle steamer, in 1885, and ran her from Millbrook Lake to North Corner on the Plymouth side, moving to the Plymouth terminus to the new Mutton Cove pier in 1891. In Millbrook Lake Millbrook would land at Millbrook itself at high tide, or nearby Anderton on lower tides. On the lowest tides the steamer could only reach Southdown at the entrance to Millbrook Lake, about a mile walk from Millbrook town. Millbrook was joined by the twin screw steamers Iolanthe in 1887, and the Lady of the Lake in 1890. John Parson operated the Millbrook ferry, plus occasional excursions, until January 1892 when he joined with William Gilbert of Saltash, who owned eight steamers, to form the Saltash, Three Towns & District Steamboat Company (STT&DSCo), which then virtually monopolised the passenger steamer services of the River Tamar. John Parson soon became disenchanted with the new company, and in September 1894 he bought the Mutton Cove to Cremyll ferry service along with its ship the Despatch, from the Oreston & Turnchapel Steamboat Company (O&TSCo). He extended the service to Millbrook Lake, placing the Despatch in direct competition with the new purpose built paddler Lady Ernestine of the STT&DSCo, of which he was still a major shareholder. John Parson's Millbrook Steamboat Company engaged in a damaging price war with the STT&DSCo for 15 years, which did not end until a compromise was reached in 1911, with the Saltash Company agreeing to discontinue operations to Millbrook Lake.
 
The John Parson's Millbrook fleet in 1914 was:- Cornubia, Devonia, Britannia, Hibernia and Brunel.
 
During the First War, the Millbrook fleet was reduced to just the Devonia and Britannia by 1916. The Devonia also appears to have been withdrawn around this time, leaving the Britannia so continue the service alone. Brunel ended up Basra (modern Iraq), and never returned to the UK. Cornubia's boiler was reused but the steamer never saw service again, after serving in Devonport Dockyard through the war. Hibernia was the sole requisitioned she to return, after service in Scapa Flow, re-entering excursion service in 1921. She continued until 1927, leaving only the Britannia again. Hibernia was replaced on excursions by the small motor vessel Manna, and the launches Princess Mary and Queen assisted Britannia on the ferry. Up until this point, the Millbrook Steamboat Company had been owned by John Parson alone, and it was not a limited company. In 1929, it was finally incorporated as the Millbrook Steamboat & Trading Company Ltd. Shares were owned by just John Parson and Frank Pearson, and William T.Crawford was appointed as manager. The first acquisition of the new Millbrook Steam Boat & Trading Company was the Lady Elizabeth. Frederick Skinner began operating motor buses around the Rame Peninsular at this time. The the Millbrook Steam Boat & Trading Company acquired some Crossley buses to set up their own services. Skinner's services were later acquired by the Millbrook Steam Boat & Trading Company in 1950. In 1932 Millbrook acquired the paddler Kenwith Castle from Bill Worth, to run a combined steamer and bus service to Whitsands. The Kenwith Castle was renamed Whitsand Castle but she was sold after only two seasons work. She was replaced in the fleet by the new Western Belle, although she was primarily used on the ferry. Western Belle was built by Fellows of Great Yarmouth, and is still in service with Dart Pleasure Craft.
 
The 1939 Millbrook fleet consisted of:- Devon Belle, Western Belle, Britannia, Southern Belle, Lady Elizabeth, Princess Mary and New Queen.
 
The Cremyll ferry had been operated by the Earls of Mount Edgcumbe. When the line of descent ceased with the death of the fifth Earl in 1944, the ferry passed to the Millbrook Steam Boat & Trading Company (who had been operating it for year anyway).
 
After the Second War, the Millbrook Steam Boat & Trading Company received new investment when new directors Sidney Mashford (of Mashfords Shipyard) and William Crawford joined the directors. The Cremyll ferries at this time were the Armadillo (2) and Shuttlecock (2), both steam powered. They were dieselised by the Millbrook Steam Boat & Trading Company in 1946/7 and 1945 respectively. Mashfords rebuilt the Shuttlecock as the Southern Belle in 1945/46, and the Armadillo became the Northern Belle. The three vessels of director Les Worth, the White Heather, Endeavour and Guiding Star, joined the fleet in 1947. They were mainly used on the Cawsand Run.
 
The 1947 Millbrook fleet consisted of:- Devon Belle, Western Belle, Tamar Belle, Southern Belle, Northern Belle, Lady Elizabeth, White Heather, Endeavour and Guiding Star.
 
In July 1950, the stage services and bus fleet of Skinners of Millbrook were acquired, giving the Millbrook Steam Boat & Trading Company a monopoly of services on the Rame Peninsular. The services were later sold to Western National. William James Crawford Managing Director in 1953, with Sidney Mashford as Chairman. Donald and Derek Crawford also became directors. White Heather was sold to Torquay owners in 1953, and Lady Elizabeth was chartered to British Railways for the Kingswear ferry from 1955-57. In May 1957, the May Queen was bought and renamed Eastern Belle. The Tamar Belle, Endeavour and Guiding Star were sold in 1959, 1960 and 1962. Mashfords built the new motor vessel Plymouth Belle in 1961. The 1950s and 1960s were profitable times for the Millbrook Steam Boat & Trading Company, who were then operating ferries to from Plymouth to Cremyll, Millbrook and Cawsand, plus they were the major Plymouth excursion operator, and also ran the Rame Peninsular bus services. Western Belle ran trips to Yealm Calstock and Looe. Devon Belle, Western Belle and Southern Belle ran the Dockyard trips, and also visited Calstock.
 
The 1970 Millbrook fleet consisted of:- Devon Belle, Western Belle, Southern Belle, Northern Belle, Lady Elizabeth, Eastern Belle and Plymouth Belle.
 
In 1975, the Millbrook Steam Boat & Trading Company bought the large Dartmouth Castle (3) from the ailing River Dart Steamboat Company. They sold her back to Dart Pleasure Craft the following year, who effectively succeeded the River Dart Steamboat Company on River Dart services. In 1977, the Millbrook Steam Boat & Trading Company bought the Cardiff Castle also from the River Dart Steamboat Company. In 1980, the directors of the Millbrook SB Co (Derek Crawford, Les Worth and Sidney Mashford) sold their shares to Dart Pleasure Craft who then ran both Dart and Plymouth services. The fleets were initially run a separate entities, although vessel exchanges were common.
 
Sidney Mashford then designed and built the boat Plymouth Venturer for new rival Plymouth Boat Cruises, who initiated a fares war with Dart Pleasure Craft. Plymouth Venturer entered service in 1982, a year after Plymouth Boat Cruises was formed with the Plymouth Princess. Dart Pleasure Craft then pulled out of Plymouth area services in 1985, concentrating on their Dart services. Dart Pleasure Craft retained Western Belle, Cardiff Castle, Plymouth Belle, Edgcumbe Belle and Dartmouth Castle. Southern Belle and Eastern Belle went to rivals Plymouth Boat Cruises, whilst Northern Belle and Queen Boadicea II and the Cremyll service went to Tamar Cruising & Cremyll Ferry (TC&CF), owned by John Knight, a former Cremyll Ferry skipper.
 
 
Ships on this Page (to be completed):-
Britannia (Millbrook: 1900-1939)
Brunel (Millbrook: 1910-1916)
Cardiff Castle (Millbrook: 1977-1985)
Cornubia (Millbrook: 186?-1914)
Dartmouth Castle (Millbrook: 1975-1976)
Despatch (Millbrook: 1895-????)
Devon Belle (Millbrook: 1936-1979) - ex-Manna
Devonia (Millbrook: 1897-1916)
Eastern Belle (Millbrook: 1957-1985)
Edgcumbe Belle (Millbrook: 1980-1985)
Hibernia (Millbrook: 1904-1928)
Lady of the Lake (Millbrook: 1895-????)
Manna (Millbrook: 1927-1936) - later Devon Belle
Northern Belle (Millbrook: 1945-1985)
Plymouth Belle (Millbrook: 1961-1985 )
Southern Belle (Millbrook: 1945-1985)
Tamar Belle (Millbrook: 1935-1959)
Western Belle (Millbrook: 1935-1985)
 
Associated Pages:-
Devon Excursion Ships - Devon Header Page
Dart Pleasure Craft
River Dart SB Co
Riddall's Boats
Plymouth Boat Cruises
Sound Cruising
Tamar Cruising & Cremyll Ferry Co
Ferry Postcards
Cruise Ship Postcards
Ocean Liner Postcards
Simplon Postcards Home Page
 
Search This Website:-

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References:-
Passenger Steamers of the River Tamar - Alan Kittridge - Twelveheads Press 1984
Steamers & Ferries of the River Tamar & Three Towns District - Alan Kittridge - Twelveheads Press 2003
Passenger Steamers of the River Dart - Richard Clammer & Alan Kittridge - Twelveheads Press 1987
Trip Out Guides - Written and published by G.P.Hamer - various editions from 1977 to 2005 consulted
Thanks to Graham Thorne for assistence with this page
 
 
 
Table of Ship Histories
Name
Other names
 Built
 Dartmouth Castle (3)  
 1948
 Southern Belle  Shuttlecock
 1925
 Western Belle  
 1935







Millbrook Fleet List
Millbrook Steamboat and Trading Company Ltd
(To Be Completed)
 
 
 
Devon Belle
(Millbrook SB & Trading Co:1927-1979)
 
Devon Belle on was built in Berlin as the Maria in 1922 and by 1926 was at Great Yarmouth as the Manna. She was acquired by Millbrook in 1927 and renamed Devon Belle, the first of their 'Belles'. She then had a spell at Falmouth with George Pill until 1987 and was at Southsea, illustrated below, until 1991. She then went to Poole as Maid of Brownsea and was reported in TRIP OUT as laid up there in 1993. I have nothing after that.
 
 
Devon Belle in service with the Millbrook Company at Cremyll
The larger image also shows Northern Belle astern. It looks be just post World War 2.
Photo: © Luke Farley
Click to open larger image in new window
 
 
Devon Belle in service with the Millbrook Company at Cremyll - Southern Belle in background
Publisher: George F W Ellis Ltd (Bodmin)
Click to open larger image in new window
 
 
Photograph of Devon Belle on Portsmouth-Spitbank Fort service in 1987.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 1987.
 
 
 
 
 
Western Belle
(Millbrook SB & Trading Co: 1935-1985)
 
The Whitsand Castle (ex-Kenwith Castle) was replaced in the fleet by the new Western Belle in 1935. Western Belle was primarily used on the ferry in her early years, though mainly ran the Dockyard trips in later, along with Devon Belle and Eastern Belle. Western Belle was built by Fellows of Great Yarmouth. Western Belle passed to Dart Pleasure Craft in 1980, and was transferred to the Dartmouth-Kingswear ferry. She was sold to the Thames in 2000, operating from 2005 for Chris Cruises on charters from Hampton Court. Western Belle was sold again in 2008, and travelled to Maryport for restoration. It is planned that she will eventually operate on Ullswater.
 
Complete history of Western Belle
 
 
Official Millbrook Steam Boat & Trading Company postcard of Western Belle.
Original saloon windows and funnel.
 
 
Official Millbrook Steam Boat & Trading Company postcard of Western Belle.
Later saloon windows and funnel.
Click to open larger image in new window
 
 
Official Millbrook Steam Boat & Trading Company postcard of Western Belle.
 
 
Photograph of Western Belle on the River Dart at Kingswear, working the Dartmouth-Kingswear ferry.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 1997.
 
 
Photograph of Western Belle on the River Dart, working the Dartmouth-Kingswear ferry.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 1997.
 
 
 
 
 
Southern Belle
(Millbrook SB & Trading Co: 1945-1985)
 
The Cremyll ferry had been operated by the Earls of Mount Edgcumbe since 1885. When the line of descent ceased with the death of the fifth Earl in 1944, the ferry passed to the Millbrook Steam Boat & Trading Company (who had been operating it for year anyway).
 
After the Second War, the Millbrook Steam Boat & Trading Company received new investment when new directors Sidney Mashford (of Mashfords Shipyard) and William Crawford joined the directors. The Cremyll ferries at this time were the Armadillo (2) and Shuttlecock (2), both steam powered and built in 1926 and 1925 respectively. They were dieselised by the Millbrook Steam Boat & Trading Company in 1946/7 and 1945 respectively. Mashfords rebuilt the Shuttlecock as the Southern Belle in 1945/46, and the Armadillo became the Northern Belle. Southern Belle was used on the Dockyard trips after the war, and passed to Dart Pleasure Craft in 1980. When Dart Pleasure Craft ceased their Plymouth services in 1985, Southern Belle was acquired by Plymouth Boat Cruises. They sold her in 2000 to the Isle of Wight Pleasure Boat Co, but she passed on again in 2003 to Steve 'Tug' Wilson who began restoration.
 
In 2006, the restored Southern Belle began services from Great Yarmouth (adjacent to the Haven Bridge near the Town Hall), owned by Steve 'Tug' Wilson. The name Yarmouth & Gorleston SP Co has been revived, although this does not appear on the brochure. Contact: 07906 020225 for details.
 
Complete history of Southern Belle
 
 
Postcard of Southern Belle.
 
 
Postcard of Southern Belle.
Click to open larger image in new window
 
 
Southern Belle in later Millbrook Steamboat & Trading Company service
Mashford's yard in the background is where she was built when it was Rogers.
Totnes Castle (3) can also be seen in the background - Photo: © Luke Farley
Click to open larger image in new window
 
 
Southern Belle in later Millbrook Steamboat & Trading Company service
Photo: © Luke Farley
 
 
Postcard of Southern Belle, with Plymouth Venturer of rival Plymouth Boat Cruises, who acquired Southern Belle in 1985.
 
 
Postcard of Southern Belle, with Plymouth Venturer of rival Plymouth Boat Cruises behind the pier.
Totnes Castle (3), (ex-Berry Castle (3)) on the right
 
 
 
 
 
Northern Belle
(Millbrook SB & Trading Co: 1945-1985)
 
The Cremyll ferry had been operated by the Earls of mount Edgcumbe. When the line of descent ceased with the death of the fifth Earl in 1944, the ferry passed to the Millbrook Steam Boat & Trading Company (who been operating it for year anyway). After the Second War, the Millbrook Steam Boat & Trading Company received new investment when new directors Sidney Mashford (of Mashfords Shipyard) and William Crawford joined the directors. The Cremyll ferries at this time were the Armadillo and Shuttlecock, both steam powered. They were dieselised by the Millbrook Steam Boat & Trading Company in 1946/7 and 1945 respectively. Mashfords rebuilt the Shuttlecock as the Southern Belle in 1945/46, and the Armadillo became the Northern Belle. In 1985, Northern Belle and Queen Boadicea II and the Cremyll service went to Tamar Cruising & Cremyll Ferry (TC&CF), owned by John Knight, a former Cremyll Ferry skipper.
 
 
Northern Belle in service with the Millbrook Company at Cremyll
The larger image also shows Devon Belle to the left. It looks be just post World War 2.
Photo: © Luke Farley
Click to open larger image in new window
 
 
Postcard of Northern Belle.
Unlike her sister Southern Belle, Northern Belle was not given an upper passenger deck.
 
 
 
 
 
Eastern Belle
(Millbrook SB & Trading Co: 1957-1985)
 
In May 1957, the May Queen was bought by the Millbrook Steam Boat & Trading Company and renamed Eastern Belle. She passed to Dart Pleasure Craft in 1980, and then to Plymouth Boat Cruises in 1985 when Dart Pleasure Craft pulled out of Plymouth services. Plymouth Boat Cruises soon sold the Eastern Belle to G H Ridalls & Sons at Dartmouth. She became their Totnes Princess and remained on the Dart until 1999. Since 2001 she has run in the Isle of Man for Captain Stephen Carter's Laxey Towing Company bearing the traditional Manx name Karina.
 
 
Postcard of Eastern Belle.
 
 
 
 
 
Plymouth Belle
(Millbrook SB & Trading Co: 1961-1985)
 
Mashfords built the new motor vessel Plymouth Belle for the Millbrook Steam Boat & Trading Company in 1961. She passed to Dart Pleasure Craft in 1980, and was later transferred to the River Dart.
 
 
Plymouth Belle at Plymouth.
Click to open larger image in new window
 
 
Plymouth Belle on the River Dart.
Photo: © Graham Thorne, September 1990
Click to open larger image in new window
 
 
Plymouth Belle on the River Dart.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 1997.
 
 
 
 
 
Cardiff Castle
(Millbrook SB & Trading Co: 1977-1985)
 
The River Dart SB Co paddler Totnes Castle (2) required major expenditure in 1964. This expense was rejected and she was replaced by the new Cardiff Castle, a sister to Conway Castle. When services ceased at the end of 1974, Cardiff Castle was initially laid up. In 1977 she was sold to replace the Dartmouth Castle (3) in the Millbrook Steamboat & Trading Company fleet. In 1980, Dart Pleasure Craft took over the Millbrook Steamboat & Trading Company.
 
 
Cardiff Castle in Dart Pleasure Craft service, with large saloon.
 
 
 
 
 
Dartmouth Castle (3)
(River Dart SB Co: 1948-1975)
(Millbrook SB & Trading Co: 1975-1976)
(Dart Pleasure Craft: 1976- )
 
In 1948, the Dartmouth Castle (3) replaced the the paddle steamer Dartmouth Castle (2) of the River Dart Steamboat Company, which had been laid up during the war, and was then sold in 1947. Dartmouth Castle (3) was followed by the similar Berry Castle (3) the following year, both from Philip of Dartmouth. In 1975, the Millbrook Steam Boat & Trading Company bought the large Dartmouth Castle (3) from the ailing River Dart Steamboat Company. They sold her back to Dart Pleasure Craft the following year, who effectively succeeded the River Dart Steamboat Company on River Dart services. In 1977, the Millbrook Steam Boat & Trading Company bought the Cardiff Castle also from the River Dart Steamboat Company. In 1980, the directors of the Millbrook SB Co (Derek Crawford, Les Worth and Sidney Mashford) sold their shares to Dart Pleasure Craft who then ran both Dart and Plymouth services.
 
In 2007, Mike Barrow of Devon Princess Cruises ran the Dartmouth Castle on cruises from Exmouth and Torbay. For cruise details contact:- www.avocetcruises.co.uk.
 
More images of Dartmouth Castle
 
 
Dartmouth Castle in service at Plymouth
Photo: © Luke Farley
 
 
Dartmouth Castle in service at Plymouth, off Fort Pickelcombe in rough weather
Photo: © Luke Farley
 
 
Dartmouth Castle in service at Plymouth, off Fort Pickelcombe in rough weather
Photo: © Luke Farley
 
 
Dartmouth Castle in Dart Pleasure Craft service on the River Dart, on a Totnes-Dartmouth trip.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 1997.
 
 
Photograph of Dartmouth Castle on the River Dart, on a Totnes-Dartmouth trip.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 1997.
 
 
Photograph of Dartmouth Castle on the River Dart, on a Totnes-Dartmouth trip.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 1997.
 
 
Photograph of Dartmouth Castle on the River Dart, on a Totnes-Dartmouth trip.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 1997.
 
 
Photograph of Dartmouth Castle on the River Dart.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 1997.
 
 
Photograph of Dartmouth Castle on the River Dart.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 1997.
 
 
 
 
 
Edgcumbe Belle (1957- )
(Millbrook SB & Trading Co: 1979-1985)
(Dart Pleasure Craft: 1985-2014)
(Cremyll Ferry: 2014- )
 
Edgcumbe Belle was built as the Humphrey Gilbert. Humphrey Gilbert and Adrian Gilbert were built for British Railways (BR) in 1957 for the Dartmouth-Kingswear ferry service. The service and the two sisters passed into local authority ownership in 1972, when BR closed the Kingswear branch beyond Goodrington. Both boats were sold in 1976 for use on the St Mawes ferry in Cornwall, but proved unsuitable and were bought back by BR for use on the Tilbury-Gravesend ferry. They again proved unsuitable for this route, but were re-engined and offered for sale. Humphrey Gilbert was laid up at Newhaven, then bought by Meridian Line Cruises of Greenwich in 1978. She was not used by them, and was sold again to the Millbrook Steam Boat & Trading Company in 1979 for use on the Drake's Island ferry as the Edgcumbe Belle. The following year, the Millbrook Steam Boat & Trading Company was bought by Dart Free Houses, the owners of Dart Pleasure Craft. Edgcumbe Belle remained at Plymouth until 1985, when Dart Pleasure Craft withdrew from the area. She was moved to the Dart, officially joining the Dart Pleasure Craft fleet, and re-joining her sister Adrian Gilbert on the Dart ferry. Following damage to the Northern Belle, Edgcumbe Belle returned to Plymouth to take over the Cremyll Ferry in 2014.
 
 
Photograph of Edgcumbe Belle on the River Dart, working the Dartmouth-Kingswear ferry.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 1997.
 
 
Photograph of Edgcumbe Belle on the River Dart, working the Dartmouth-Kingswear ferry.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 1997.
 
 
Photograph of Edgcumbe Belle on the River Dart, working the Dartmouth-Kingswear ferry.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 1997.
 
 
Photograph of Edgcumbe Belle on the River Dart, working the Dartmouth-Kingswear ferry.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 1997.
 
 
Photograph of Edgcumbe Belle at Kingswear.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 1997.
 
 
Photograph of Edgcumbe Belle at Kingswear.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 1997.
 
 
Photograph of Edgcumbe Belle on the River Dart, working the Dartmouth-Kingswear ferry.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 1997.
 
 
Photograph of Edgcumbe Belle on the River Dart, working the Dartmouth-Kingswear ferry.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 1997.
 
 
Photograph of Edgcumbe Belle on the River Dart, working the Dartmouth-Kingswear ferry.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 1997.
 
 
Photograph of Edgcumbe Belle on the River Dart, working the Dartmouth-Kingswear ferry.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 1997.
 
 
Photograph of Edgcumbe Belle on the River Dart, working the Dartmouth-Kingswear ferry.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 1997.
 
 
Photograph of Edgcumbe Belle on the River Dart, with Devonair Belle passing.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 1997.
 
 
Photograph of Edgcumbe Belle on the River Dart, working the Dartmouth-Kingswear ferry.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 1997.
 
 
Photograph of Edgcumbe Belle on the River Dart, working the Dartmouth-Kingswear ferry.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 1997.
 
 
Edgcumbe Belle at Dartmouth
Photo: © John Hendy 2007
Click to open larger image in new window





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