The MV Lady Wakefield is a twin screw passenger vessel, operating between Glenridding, Howtown and Pooley Bridge on Ullswater in the Lake District for Ullswater Navigation and Transit Co, marketed as Ullswater 'Steamers'.[2]
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| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom | |
| Name |
|
| Namesake | Berry Pomeroy Castle |
| Owner |
|
| Route |
|
| Builder | Philip and Son, Dartmouth, Devon |
| Launched | 1949 |
| Status | Operating on Ullswater |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Twin-screw motor vessel |
| Tonnage | 50 GT |
| Length | 67 ft (20 m) LOA |
| Beam | 16.5 ft (5.0 m) |
| Depth | 5.5 ft (1.7 m) |
| Decks | 2 |
| Propulsion | Diesel |
| Capacity | 150 passengers[1] |
History
editThe ship was built in 1949 by Philip & Son of Dartmouth, Devon, UK as the MV Berry Castle for the River Dart Steamboat Co Ltd (RDSC). She was named after Berry Pomeroy Castle, which is located a few miles from the River Dart and was the third vessel in the fleet to bear the name. MV Berry Castle was used on the company's River Dart services from Dartmouth and Totnes in South Devon. In 1972 she was sold to Discover Galapagos Ltd, to be fitted out for diving in Honduras. This project failed and she was operated on the Medway by Discover Galapagos as the MV Golden Cormorant. In 1976 she returned to the Dart, owned by the RDSC's successor: Dart Pleasure Craft Ltd, and was renamed MV Totnes Castle.[3]
In 1985 Dart Pleasure Craft, which had previously bought the Millbrook Steamboat & Trading Co Ltd of Plymouth, withdrew its services from the Plymouth area, and in the process, MV Totnes Castle was sold to Plymouth Boat Cruises. She operated cruises from Plymouth. During her time in Plymouth she gained additional enclosed accommodation in the form of a large deckhouse on the former open deck behind her wheelhouse. In 2006 she was sold to Ullswater Navigation and Transit Company, and moved to Ullswater, involving an overland journey to this land-locked lake. She was renamed MV Lady Wakefield.[2]
On 6 December 2015 Lady Wakefield suffered damage while moored at Pooley Bridge pier during Storm Desmond. She started to take on water, and was rescued by being run aground the following day. On 12 May 2016, MV Lady Wakefield was rolled back into the water after being beached for five months, and docked for repair.[4][5][6]
Gallery
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Lady Wakefield before entering Ullswater service -
Lady Wakefield approaching Howtown -
Lady Wakefield beached by Storm Desmond
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References
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- ^ Hammar GP. Trip Out 2005/06, self-published, 2005
- ^ a b Boyle, I. "Plymouth Boat Cruises". www.simplonpc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 16 October 2009. Retrieved 15 September 2009.
- ^ Clammer, R & Kittridge,A. Passenger Steamers of the River Dart & Kingsbridge Estuary, The Paddle Steamer Preservation Society &Twelveheads Press, 1987
- ^ "Village floods for second time in five days". The Westmorland Gazette. 10 December 2015. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
- ^ "Business re-opens as usual for the Ullswater Steamers". ITV News. 14 January 2016. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
- ^ "Lady Wakefield makes it back into the water". Cruising Monthly. 20 May 2016. Archived from the original on 16 June 2016. Retrieved 16 June 2016.