king harry
the company
In 1887, Colonel Arthur Tremayne of Carclew, gathered together some friends, with the idea of forming a company to run a steam-driven ferry across the River Fal, in place of the old barge-like, man-propelled craft which was then being used.
This idea was not very enthusiastically supported at first . But the following year, on the 18th April 1888, The King Harry Steam Ferry Company Limited was formed, to acquire the lease and charter for the operation of a steam ferry across the River Fal at King Harry Passage, together with the land and property.
The owner of the land at that time was Mr. C. Davies-Gilbert of Trelissick, who charged a rent of £24 per annum. This lease was originally for 90 years, but in 1934 it was terminated, and the land, property and charter were acquired by the Company from the Trustees of the Davies-Gilbert family.
ownership
The company changed hands for the first time in 112 years in April 2001 after being purchased by a predominantly local syndicate comprising of five families.
There had been several previous "take-over" bids for the Company since the 1939-1945 War, but in spite of its various vicissitudes, the chief shareholders, having a sentimental attachment to their Ferry, had refused to part with their shares until 2001.
With the increasing traffic and various businesses which use the Ferry, the Ferry continues to be a vital link in Cornwalls transport infrastructure.
ferry no 1
1889-1913
ferry no 2
1913-1950
ferry no 3
Only six months service
ferry no 4
1950- 1962
ferry no 5
1962 - 1974
ferry no 6
1974 - 2006
the past
There has been a ferry operating over the upper reaches of the Fal for more than 500 years and the new ferry is the 7th to operate on the service since 1888. Back then the ferry also carried livestock and while a gentleman’s horse was allowed to travel on board, the farmer’s horse and his livestock had to swim alongside. Farmers worried about missing stock would often position small boats downstream to haul out strays.heritage
For centuries a Ferry has crossed the beautiful River Fal. The King Harry Steam Ferry has been in operation since 1888, although steam has not actually been used to propel the ferry since 1956 when conversion was made to diesel electric propulsion.Some would like to see steam come back and any one who has ideas as to how this could be achieved would be most welcome to contact the company.It is a well established fact that there has been a ferry at King Harry Passage for centuries. There are conflicting stories about the name of King Harry. One being that King Henry VIII spent his honeymoon with Anne Boleyn at St. Mawes Castle, and signed a charter for the ferry on this site. but the more likely one being many years ago, a small Chapel stood on the Philleigh side of the passage, but all that remains of this is a small pile of stones, covered in moss and lichen. It is mentioned in 1528 as "The Chapel of St. Mary and King Henry", and commemorated King Henry VI the Lancastrian King who was murdered in 1471.
During the war years the ferry was more or less taken over by the forces, especially the American Navy and Army, with General Eisenhower also being a passenger whilst inspecting preparations for D-Day.The service nearly stopped due to lack of decent burnig coal until the Americans stepped in and provided the ferry company with good coal from the States.
The King Harry Ferry is 1 of only 5 remaining chain Ferries operating in England. The present ferry (No. VI) was built in Penryn, Cornwall in 1974, and is a vital link between Feock (near Truro) and the Roseland.