West Cornwall Steam Ship Company

The West Cornwall Steam Ship Company was established in 1870 to operate ferry services between Penzance, Cornwall, and the Isles of Scilly.

History

The company was formed on 5 February 1870, principally by the shareholders in the West Cornwall Railway. The following year it took over the "Little Western Steamship Association" which had been operating on the route since 1858. Following financial problems the company was acquired by John Banfield who set up the West Cornwall Steamship Company in 1907. He already operated two steam launches around the islands, "Seagull" and "Siva", to which he added a 120 ton sailing ship, the "Golden Light". The company sold the remaining ferry operating to Penzance and was wound up.

Steam services to the islands were hastily arranged by chartering the "Lapwing" from a Clyde operator until a new Isles of Scilly Steamship Company could take over in 1920.

Vessels

Little Western

The "Little Western" had been launched in 1858, and transferred to the West Cornwall company in 1871. It was wrecked on 6 October 1872.

Earl of Arran

The "Earl of Arran" was a paddle steamer built in 1860 for service at Ardrossan and the Isle of Arran in Scotland. She moved to Penzance in 1871 but was wrecked in July the following year. She was 140 feet long and displaced 148 gross tons.

Guide

"Guide" was a wooden-hulled paddle steamer leased following the loss of the West Cornwall's two ships in 1872. It was kept in service until 1875.

Queen of the Bay

The paddle steamer "Queen of the Bay" saw service in Morecambe Bay, Lancashire for seven years, before transferring to Penzance in 1875, where she worked for about ten years. She was 131 feet 6 inches long and 136 tons.

Lady of the Isles

The "Lady of the Isles" was launched by Harvey's of Hayle in 1875 and worked on the West Cornwall service until 1905. It was sunk by a mine near [Falmouth] on 3 October 1940. She was 130 feet 6 inches long and 162 tons.

Lyonesse

The "Lyonesse" was another vessel built by Harvey's, this time in 1889. She was sold in 1918. Lyonesse is the area of land reputedly lying beneath the sea between Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. She was 170 feet long and 382 tons.

Deerhound

The "Deerhound" had worked on the Mersey since being built in 1901, when she was transferred to West Cornwall in 1905. She was sold on to Canada two years later, becoming the "Lady Evelyn". She was 189 feet long and 483 tons.

References

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