Tuesday 17 February 2015

Before Rushing off to Flushing ...

... better check the timetable.
click on the map to enlarge

Falmouth and St Mawes stand guard at the end of Carrick Roads, a substantial inlet from the sea. Several rivers and creeks feed into the Roads which has led to the operation of numerous ferries.
One which has taken fbb's interest is that between Falmouth and Flushing which forms part of the transport "network" to the general area where sits the fbb family holiday cottage. Cottage is a definite misnomer and the "barn conversion" would simply envelop the No 1 son's semi, the No 3 son's flat and the modest appurtenances of fbb towers with room to spare.

Flushing was given its name by Dutch engineers from a town of the same name in the Netherlands. They built the three main quays in the village. The bigger houses on St Peter's Road, the road that leads into the village,
were owned by (often Dutch) captains of the packet ships (mail-boats) that docked in nearby Falmouth.

The history of the ferry is well covered on a web site oddly entitled "Simplon Postcards" (here). But in summary:-

The service has a long history; ot is recorded that Charles II bestowed its rights to Sir Peter Killigrew in 1660. It was leased to successive ferrymen, who rowed the short route between Flushing Quay and Greenbank Quay ...
... a route that was still shown on older OS maps.
This short route no longer appears to operate. The "main" ferry transferred to Falmouth centre with proper powered boats, possibly around 1900 and has been run by a succession of local families ever since.

In 1951 the owners built the Nankersey (the old name for Flushing) at Falmouth Boat Construction. Miranda II also remained on the route, and continued to maintain it after Nankersey was sold to the St Mawes Ferry Company in 1976. Ownership of the Flushing Ferry Company changed several times, being acquired by Dr.F.E.Clynick and his family in 1981. The company ceased trading in 1984/5, ferry ownership passing to F.M.Clynick who had A.J.Murray build the current boat Miranda (2) in 1985. Since 2006, the ferry has been run by the Hudson family.
So now we want to check the times.

We could start with Traveline (timetable squidged for legibility) ...
... but a half hour frequency seven days a week looks over-lavish for Febuary.

The Cornwall Council transport web site offers a broad brush guide ...
... which looks much more likely. It also warns that the Sunday service runs during "summer" only.
All the local ferry routes are marketed under the Fal River Brand with links to each operator.

A quick on-line poke for the Flushing service offers a slightly different perspective ...
... possibly reinstating a winter Sunday service but being a little coy about frequency. But, as part of the same web site pages ...
... we aee the hourly timetable with ...
... nary a maritime chug on winter Sundays.

Or we could turn to the excellent guide to the area ...
... and confirm the hourly service ...
... running (yes you've guessed it) ...
... 7 days a week all year round.

As one last check, fbb toddled down to the departure pier; where, in summer, hapless visitors are harangued by ruddy faced sailors in chunky jumpers and peaked hats to join their particular vessel. And the score on the door of the Flushing hut says ...
... runs daily; but "corrected" by a nearby timetable.
Likewise the metal timetable at the departure steps ...
... is annotated clearly (?).
And we all thought that bus timetables were troublesome!

And it is to Falmouth's bus information that we return tomorrow.

 Next bus blog : Wednesday 18th February 

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