Description
Windermere is the largest lake in England, 10.5 miles long and 200 ft deep in places.
The lake is classified as a public highway and in centuries past supported commercial traffic associated with slate and copper mining, timber, wool and fishing.
In the early years of the 19th century White and Gibson of Ambleside operated a sailing packet service. Their vessels carried passengers and general goods between Ambleside, Bowness, the Hawkshead Ferry and Newby Bridge.
This service connected with the Ulverston to Lancaster Stagecoach at the Swan Hotel, Newby Bridge, and with the Lancaster to Whitehaven Stagecoach at Ambleside. The full journey took 3.5 hours; return fares were – Ambleside to Bowness 1/- (5p), Ambleside to the Ferry 1/6 (7.5p) and Ambleside to Newby Bridge 3/- (15p).
Considering that an agricultural worker earned around 6/- (30p) a week at that time, fares were very high
Other ferry operators, including John Braithwaite of Bowness, rowed passengers up and down the lake exchanging people and goods at the Hawkshead Ferry.
The idea of providing a Steamer service came from John Fell of Greenodd. Most of the capital for the Steamers came from Kendal and Ulverston. Only four shareholders lived close to Windermere – two came from Ambleside, one from Troutbeck and one from Bowness, the latter being Thomas Ullock, owner of the Royal Hotel.
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