''Tower Belle'' is a passenger boat based in

Bristol Harbour Bristol Harbour is the harbour in the city of Bristol, England. The harbour covers an area of . It is the former natural tidal river Avon through the city but was made into its current form in 1809 when the tide was prevented from going out per ...

in England. The vessel is operated by the

Bristol Packet Boat Trips Bristol Packet Boat Trips is a limited company offering public and charter excursions in Bristol Harbour and on the River Avon. The company has four boats: the river launch '' Tower Belle'', narrowboat ''Redshank'', glass-topped ''Bagheera'' ...

company on pleasure and educational trips in the City Docks, on the River Avon to the Chequers Inn at

Hanham Lock Hanham Lock is a canal lock situated on the River Avon, at the village of Hanham near Bristol, England. The Bristol Avon Navigation, which runs the from the Kennet and Avon Canal at Hanham Lock to the Bristol Channel at Avonmouth, was constr ...

and Beese's Tea Gardens at

Conham Conham is a suburb of the city of Bristol in England. It lies near Hanham on the north bank of the River Avon just outside the city boundaries in South Gloucestershire South Gloucestershire is a unitary authority area in the ceremonial c ...

. '' Tower Belle'' was built in 1920 in

Newcastle upon Tyne Newcastle upon Tyne ( RP: , ), or simply Newcastle, is a city and metropolitan borough in Tyne and Wear, England. The city is located on the River Tyne's northern bank and forms the largest part of the Tyneside built-up area. Newcastle is ...

Armstrong Whitworth Sir W G Armstrong Whitworth & Co Ltd was a major British manufacturing company of the early years of the 20th century. With headquarters in Elswick, Newcastle upon Tyne, Armstrong Whitworth built armaments, ships, locomotives, automobiles and a ...

, originally known as ''Wincomblee''. In the 1950s and 1960s she worked in London, finally coming to Bristol in 1976.

History

Originally known as ''Wincomblee'' after a place in the

Walker Walker or The Walker may refer to: People *Walker (given name) *Walker (surname) *Walker (Brazilian footballer) (born 1982), Brazilian footballer Places In the United States *Walker, Arizona, in Yavapai County *Walker, Mono County, California * ...

district of Newcastle, details of her early history are not known. She was operated by the Armstrong Whitworth company that built her, either as an executive launch or a company ferry for shipyard workers. In 1939 she was transferred to

Newcastle City Council Newcastle City Council is the local government authority for the city and metropolitan borough of Newcastle upon Tyne. The council consists of 78 councillors, three for each of the 26 wards in the city. It is currently controlled by the Labou ...

and was likely used as a ferry on the

River Tyne The River Tyne is a river in North East England. Its length (excluding tributaries) is . It is formed by the North Tyne and the South Tyne, which converge at Warden Rock near Hexham in Northumberland at a place dubbed 'The Meeting of the Wate ...

during the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

. In 1946 she was moved to London and then commenced passenger services on the

River Thames The River Thames ( ), known alternatively in parts as the The Isis, River Isis, is a river that flows through southern England including London. At , it is the longest river entirely in England and the Longest rivers of the United Kingdom, se ...

from

Westminster Pier Westminster Millennium Pier is a pier on the River Thames, in the City of Westminster in London, UK. It is operated by London River Services and served by various river transport and cruise operators. It is located next to Westminster Bridge o ...

, downriver to

Greenwich Greenwich ( , ,) is a town in south-east London, England, within the ceremonial county of Greater London. It is situated east-southeast of Charing Cross. Greenwich is notable for its maritime history and for giving its name to the Greenwich ...

and up to

Hampton Court Hampton Court Palace is a Grade I listed royal palace in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, southwest and upstream of central London on the River Thames. The building of the palace began in 1514 for Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, the chief ...

. A single

screw A screw and a bolt (see '' Differentiation between bolt and screw'' below) are similar types of fastener typically made of metal and characterized by a helical ridge, called a ''male thread'' (external thread). Screws and bolts are used to fa ...

powered by diesel engine replaced the original steam powered twin screw arrangement. Her operators on the Thames were H G Hastings (1947–45), Thames Launches (1955–59) and, renamed ''Tower Belle'', W R Witham (1960–76). In 1976 she was abandoned, no longer considered river-worthy, at

Eel Pie Island Eel Pie Island is an island in the River Thames at Twickenham in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. It is on the maintained minimum head of water above the only lock on the Tideway and is accessible by boat or from the left (generall ...

Twickenham Twickenham is a suburban district in London, England. It is situated on the River Thames southwest of Charing Cross. Historically part of Middlesex, it has formed part of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames since 1965, and the boroug ...

. There she was found by the owner of the Bristol Packet Boat Trips company, which operated narrowboat harbour tours in

Bristol City Docks Bristol Harbour is the harbour in the city of Bristol, England. The harbour covers an area of . It is the former natural tidal river Avon through the city but was made into its current form in 1809 when the tide was prevented from going out per ...

. ''Tower Belle'' was brought by lorry to Bristol, sustaining further damage en route. After repairs she was re-launched into the docks in late 1976. Trips down the

Avon Gorge The Avon Gorge () is a 1.5-mile (2.5-kilometre) long gorge on the River Avon in Bristol, England. The gorge runs south to north through a limestone ridge west of Bristol city centre, and about 3 miles (5 km) from the mouth of the r ...

, to

Avonmouth Avonmouth is a port and outer suburb of Bristol, England, facing two rivers: the reinforced north bank of the final stage of the Avon which rises at sources in Wiltshire, Gloucestershire and Somerset; and the eastern shore of the Severn Estuar ...

and back were offered, in addition to journeys upriver to the Chequers Inn at Hanham and Beese's Tea Gardens. Private parties, sometimes with an on-board jazz band were also offered. In subsequent years, improvements to the vessel included the replacement of the wooden flooring with a more durable steel deck, and the addition of an electrical generator, enabling power for DJ parties and refrigeration for refreshments. In 2010, the 90th birthday of ''Tower Belle'' was celebrated with a special commemorative cruise which included the attendance of Lord Mayor Colin Smith, who cut a cake and said, "It is remarkable that this boat can still be around after 90 years and, with the renaissance in the city docks, that boats such as this have come back into huge popularity and add to the city's culture."

Technical information

''Tower Belle'' is powered by a diesel engine which drives a single propeller. Her overall length is and her beam is . The draught is and the air draught is . The ship is licensed to carry 95 passengers and is equipped with life rings, inflatable life rafts and life jackets. There is a small bar and toilet facilities.

References

External links

''Tower Belle'' at Bristol Packet Boat Trips
{{National Historic Ships 1920 ships Tourist attractions in Bristol Ships and vessels on the National Register of Historic Vessels Bristol Harbourside Ships built by Armstrong Whitworth Ships built on the River Clyde