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Wallasey Ferry Royal Iris

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97K views 305 replies 82 participants last post by  Ron Stringer  
S
#1 ·
Here is a picture of the last Royal Iris before she was sold into private hands.
She is now rusting away in Woolwich on the Thames (Sad) , I would love to see her saved and returned to the Mersey

Santos.
 

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#199 ·
A bit of updated news:

Royal Iris was taking on water from a hole in her stbd quarter this afternoon. Its thought to be nothing major and the PLA plan to check her waterline on low water tomorrow and patch her up i guess?
 
#201 · (Edited)
OMG, so sad but I guess that this is the inevitable consequence of the neglect that she appears to be sufferin'? I had so many hopes for her when James Jeged talked of engines being designed for her, makin' her safe and watertight and havin' her registered as a vessel of historic significance. Sadly it appears to have been fine words and has come to not much more?

Why would "the PLA plan to check her waterline on low water tomorrow and patch her up" Karbine, or do we mean that they'll instruct the owner to patch her up?

Why on earth did he spend good money to rescue her, movin her from Cardif and then leave her to rot like this? Surely it would have been better to simply make a present of her to the city of Liverpool in the hope that funds could then be raised up there, rather than watch her rot here on the Thames?

How long before the PLA insist on her being removed and she goes for scrap?
 
B
#200 ·
Hi
some messages from friends with London Fire Brigade connections....

Silvertown, Ex Ferry ship sunk, in docks, Fire, Police & Ambulance in Att, Now looking for bodies

just a derelict ex-Mersey ferry that has been moored there for years and has been on the bottom for sometime it appeared to be sinking as the high tide had been swamping it a little more than normal and this had been noticed by a passing vessel !

Barry
 
S
#204 ·
Gerry,

Like you I did hold out a little hope when the owner and his friend spoke of doing something with her but obvisously nothing has been done.

I too dont know why people buy vessels and then let them go to ruin finally to be scrapped and they lose all their money, very strange.

Chris.
 
#205 · (Edited)
S
#206 · (Edited)
That really is a very sad sight, I would think that this must be the end of her. All the fine talk came to nothing as usual. I feel somewhat conned after being asked and giving advice on the re-painting and renovation to her original colours.

I would rather of seen her taken for breaking when she finished as a restaurant - coupled with the sight of the Manxman rotting away too, its a very sad time and all so unnecessary.

Chris.
 
S
#211 · (Edited)
Hi Everyone,
I, like yourselves are appalled at the way they have let the Iris go to ruin, how can the powers that be see fit to pay millions for mechanical spiders penguins, clowns and other err...'art' as it is called. BUT they do not see fit to bring home a boat that holds so many memories for the merseyside people. Take a look at the site i have created on face book http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/group.php?gid=291068027297&ref=nf
lets see if we can bring her home somehow. xx
 
B
#212 ·
Hi all, new member to your forum, inspired by this sad news of the Royal Iris. All this has caused a bit of a stir back here on Merseyside, and Im sure everyone up here would love to see her returned to her rightful home, her place of birth. Please, if any of you have a Facebook account, or know anyone who does, click on the link above left by Sue and take a look at the locals comments. If anyone on here knows how to contact the owner of the Iris, or has any useful information, please let us know. Thank you...Colin
 
N
#213 ·
This is so sad. I was in London over the New Year and had to go and look at the sad state of the Iris. I'm glad I got to see her before she disappears forever.
I'm traveling down to London this coming weekend and will definitely go and have another look at her.
This is absolutely devastating. It's nothing short of vandalism what the person who owns the old girl has done.

Mr N.
 
X
#214 ·
It's so sad to see but if it wasn't for her current owner, we may have been having this discussion about 7/8 years ago. I, for one, hope she won't meet her fate at the hands of the cutters torch but, as it says on Wikepedia, she seems to have dodged the scrapman since 1991...

Unless anyone with major disposable income comes to the rescue, even to get her to static status, she's finished, much as it pains me to say it. Reading a report from the Wirral Globe from 2001 when a spokesman for Mersey Ferries said, upon questioning, was asked what it would need to make her seaworthy again. He said between 6-7 milion pounds would be required. He also stated that the reason she was retired in the first place was due to the fact that she 'needed a new power plant and a new hull.' Not pocket money you'll agree...
 
#216 ·
A story in tonight's 'Liverpool Echo' states that the Merseyside Maritime Museum are looking to acquire some artefacts from the Royal Iris, such as lifebelts, or even the wheel, to put on display so that at least something of the ship survives.
Better than nothing I suppose.
Pat
 
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K
#219 ·
Pleased to read that some artefacts from Royal Iris are likely to be transferred to Merseyside Maritime Museum for preservation and display.
When I heard rumours, I thought maybe they were going to restore her and bring her back to the Mersey where she belongs.
It is a disgrace that she's been left to rot away on the Thames with no intention of doing anything about her. In these cir***stances it would have been more fitting if she had been broken up as nobody could find the capital to preserve her.

Regards
Keith
 
N
#220 ·
I was just one of many, many thousands, that can recall wonderful times on board that lovely little lady. She was not the best looking craft that you ever saw, but for sheer nostalgia, that boat held special memories for several generations. It has been mentioned that artifacts of the 'Iris' will now find their way into the 'Maritime Museum', for me, the artifacts that should have been preserved for Merseyside and the UK, should have been the 'Iris' complete.
 
#224 ·
The owner probably doesn't care, the water hasn't reached his caravan yet!
 
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#226 ·
S
#227 · (Edited)
From the Liverpool Echo Saturday 20th February 2010 :-

A BUSINESSMAN has revealed he is in negotiations with the owner of the Royal Iris to buy the much-loved historic former ferry.

Known as the “fish and chip” boat, the Royal Iris has lain derelict on the Thames for the last eight years.

The ECHO revealed how she had become flooded on high tides and was in a sorry state.

But the Wirral businessman – who wishes to remain anonymous while negotiations continue – said he hoped to bring the boat back to the Mersey.

He said: “It is not a selfish thing and if others want to become involved they are welcome – but I have spent several years trying to convince the owner of the Royal Iris to sell her to me.

“I visited her again last week and some people had actually repaired the hull so she does not take on water during the high tides.

“As far as I know, they have not been paid for the work, but just did it because they had heard about the state of the vessel.

“Structurally, internally, she is relatively sound, but externally the years have taken their toll.

“I have had quotes for repairing her and towing her to the Mersey, and there are others who would help in this.”

He said if the Royal Iris can be brought back, he hopes to set up a not-for-profit organisation to oversee repairing the boat and allowing her to cruise the Mersey again.

The one-time Mersey ferry is in a perilous state on a mud bank in the Thames and had been taking in water.

The businessman said the vessel’s scrap value is minimal, but it was now a case of convincing the owner to sell the boat so it could be restored.

The Port of London Authority’s spokesman Martin Garside said there had not been “any significant change to the status of the vessel”, but in the long term it would be “lovely to see it resolved”.

Lets sincerely hope something comes of all this and it is not just another false dawn.

Chris.
 
K
#228 ·
Chris

I hope he succeeds in bringing her back to her rightful place the Mersey.
It is very frustrating to see her rusting away and sinking on the Thames.
This vessel has given so much pleasure to us Merseysiders over the years.
I agree lets hope its not another false dawn.

Regards
Keith
 
#229 ·
He was on Radio Merseyside at Lunchtime talking about his plans. I only caught the tail end of it but he did sound convincing.
A cynic might say that they all sound convincing.
Pat
 
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