Daniel Adamson "Lord Stalbridge Cruise" April 16, 2022
Daniel Adamson – The Lord Stalbridge Cruise – April 16, 2022
Find out more about Daniel Adamson Cruises by clicking here: https://www.thedanny.co.uk/
Why the “Lord Stalbridge Cruise”?
This special cruise named “The Lord Stalbridge” honoured of Richard de Aquila Grosvenor, 1st Baron Stalbridge. This was the second cruise of the DANIEL ADAMSON’s 2022 season.
Lord Stalbridge was director and later chairman of the London and North Western Railway Company owners of the Port of Garston. Stalbridge gave his name to the third and final dock constructed at the port and performed the opening ceremony of “his” dock in 1907.
Lord Stalbridge also gave his name to the DANIEL ADAMSON’s former fleet mate LORD STALBRIDGE constructed in Dublin in 1909 for the Shropshire Union Railway and Canal Company. The Shropshire Union being initially being leased by the London and North Western Railway before it eventually acquired the business.
The Lord Stalbridge Cruise commenced from the Lighthouse Berth at Ellesmere Port on the Manchester Ship Canal. The berth, named from the still extant Lighthouse that guided vessels into the Shropshire Union Canal from the river Mersey at this location.
Construction of the Manchester Ship Canal rendered the Lighthouse redundant as it cut off direct access from the Mersey.
However, this historic lighthouse survives, the site is now home to The Fire Brigades Union who have offices on site and permitted DANIEL ADAMSON passengers to use their car park. The National Waterways Museum Car Park used for DANIEL ADAMSON cruises in the past being unavailable due to the 2022 Easter Boat Gathering.
The Daniel Adamson had commenced her 2022 Cruising Season the previous day when she sailed with a full complement of passengers from Canning Dock to Ellesmere Port.
Prior to the scheduled departure from Ellesmere Port at 09:30 there was activity on the Manchester Ship Canal to be observed.
Cement Carrier CEMSOL passed down the canal heading for Eastham Locks around at 08:29 followed at 08:55 James Fisher’s CLYDE FISHER assisted by Carmet tugs MSC VICTORY on the bow and MSC VIKING on the stern. Tanker ALENA MERCAN then moved up the canal from Ellesmere Port Docks to Stanlow Oil Dock where she was observed later in the cruise.
The DANIEL ADAMSON departed around 09:30 and headed down stream towards Eastham Locks – as we approached the locks CLYDE FISHER was already running down to river level. Engines stopped DANIEL ADAMSON drifted slowly down towards the locks.
After waiting for CLYDE FISHER to exit Eastham Lock the DANIEL ADAMSON entered, being secured at 10:28. Vessels observed at Eastham included four Carmet Tugs MSC VOLANT, MSC VICEROY, MSC VICTORY and MSC VIKING, the latter two tugs having brought CLYDE FISHER down the canal. Also present at Eastham was the shabby MSC48 barge and Carmet’s work vessel CT VECTOR.
At Eastham Locks, the Manchester Ship Canal pilot disembarked to be replaced by three Mersey River pilots. The Mersey pilots would remain with the DANIEL ADAMSON until our return to Eastham. Ropes let go at 10:43 and off down the Mersey we headed passing the remains of the Eastham Ferry terminal closed in 1929.
Passing the former McTay Ship Yard, now another part of the Carmet business, Njord Offshore support vessel NJORD ALPHA could be viewed sat on the slipway as a speed boat passed on the port side.
Arklow Shipping’s ARKLOW FUTURE was noted heading upstream, she turned and proceeded to berth at Mersey Wharf which is the river wall facility at Bromborough created to replace the enclosed Bromborough Docks closed in 1986.
The DANIEL ADAMSON started to turn towards the Garston Channel at 11:22.
Approaching from the mouth of the river at this time was the large oil tanker ATINA accompanied by Svitzer tugs.
After turning out of Eastham Channel and across the River Mersey DANIEL ADAMSON headed off down the Garston Channel.
On Riverside Drive a minor road traffic drama was observed involving a Keepings’ coach. Keepings is a coach operator from Mountain Ash, Wales. Other Keepings vehicles were observed on Riverside Drive in the vicinity of the Britannia Public House.
However, one particularly long 6-wheel vehicle was stuck at the bottom of the approach to the new coach parking area which created a year or so ago on the site of a previous car park. Observing through binoculars the rear end of the 6-wheel vehicle had grounded which had necessitated the attendance of two police cars and a recovery truck. A technician was observed examining the twin back wheels.
The cruise continued down Garston Channel and the DANIEL ADAMSON attracted the gaze of people walking the Otterspool Promenade including those in a larger group around the “Sitting Bull” sculpture at the south end of the promenade. We continued past the Grassendale and Cressington Esplanades which serve one of Liverpool’s oldest gated communities which date back to the 1850s, then on to enter the Port of Garston by the sole remaining river entrance.
When the DANIEL ADAMSON arrived in the Stalbridge Dock an announcement Informed passengers that due to tidal constraints we would not proceed into Old Dock or North Dock. There were only two vessels present in ABP Garston. The Norwegian cargo ship FRI BERGEN and visible at the far end of North Dock the former Mersey Ferry ROYAL DAFFODIL (ex OVERCHURCH) which is still the process of undergoing conversion into a floating hospitality venue and has renamed DAFFODIL.
It was a little disappointing not to be able to sail up to the DAFFODIL for a closer look, but “compensation” occurred later in the cruise with an extension up the Manchester Ship Canal to Stanlow.
As the DANIEL ADAMSOMN retraced its route the errant coach, noted earlier, had been moved and was now with the other Keepings’ Coaches on Riverside Drive though the recovery truck and police cars had moved to the coach park.
At Tranmere Oil Terminal the Svitzer tugs were in the final stages of berthing the oil tanker ATTINA. We entered Eastham Channel around 13:39 and headed towards the locks. The site of the former Job’s Ferry landing marked by sandstone steps and the remains of a quay wall could be seen north of Eastham. This ancient Mersey ferry route dating back to the 1300s.
By the time the DANIEL ADAMSON passed Eastham Ferry on the return the area around the Eastham Ferry Hotel and The Tap public house were very busy with plenty of “gongoozlers” observing our passage back to Eastham Locks.
Around this time Carmet’s work boat VIXEN passed outbound from the Manchester Ship Canal well loaded with cargo. DANIEL ADAMSON was secure in Eastham Lock at 13:39. Reaching the canal level took about 13 minutes. Whilst in the lock the three Mersey pilots left the vessel and the Manchester Ship Canal pilot joined.
DANIEL ADAMSON then headed off up the
canal but did not stop at Ellesmere Port proceeding to Stanlow where tankers ALYNA MERCAN and FURE FLAYDEN were observed in Stanlow Oil Dock whilst SLOMAN HERAKLES was berthed on the canal.
DANIEL ADAMSON turned at the entrance to the Stanlow Oil Dock around 14:38 and headed back to Ellesmere Port where she was made fast at 15:08.
All in all, the trip was highly satisfying and undertaken in perfect weather conditions – an excellent day out.
If you have not sailed on the DANIEL ADAMSON yet you really must make the effort!
Read MoreFind out more about Daniel Adamson Cruises by clicking here: https://www.thedanny.co.uk/
Why the “Lord Stalbridge Cruise”?
This special cruise named “The Lord Stalbridge” honoured of Richard de Aquila Grosvenor, 1st Baron Stalbridge. This was the second cruise of the DANIEL ADAMSON’s 2022 season.
Lord Stalbridge was director and later chairman of the London and North Western Railway Company owners of the Port of Garston. Stalbridge gave his name to the third and final dock constructed at the port and performed the opening ceremony of “his” dock in 1907.
Lord Stalbridge also gave his name to the DANIEL ADAMSON’s former fleet mate LORD STALBRIDGE constructed in Dublin in 1909 for the Shropshire Union Railway and Canal Company. The Shropshire Union being initially being leased by the London and North Western Railway before it eventually acquired the business.
The Lord Stalbridge Cruise commenced from the Lighthouse Berth at Ellesmere Port on the Manchester Ship Canal. The berth, named from the still extant Lighthouse that guided vessels into the Shropshire Union Canal from the river Mersey at this location.
Construction of the Manchester Ship Canal rendered the Lighthouse redundant as it cut off direct access from the Mersey.
However, this historic lighthouse survives, the site is now home to The Fire Brigades Union who have offices on site and permitted DANIEL ADAMSON passengers to use their car park. The National Waterways Museum Car Park used for DANIEL ADAMSON cruises in the past being unavailable due to the 2022 Easter Boat Gathering.
The Daniel Adamson had commenced her 2022 Cruising Season the previous day when she sailed with a full complement of passengers from Canning Dock to Ellesmere Port.
Prior to the scheduled departure from Ellesmere Port at 09:30 there was activity on the Manchester Ship Canal to be observed.
Cement Carrier CEMSOL passed down the canal heading for Eastham Locks around at 08:29 followed at 08:55 James Fisher’s CLYDE FISHER assisted by Carmet tugs MSC VICTORY on the bow and MSC VIKING on the stern. Tanker ALENA MERCAN then moved up the canal from Ellesmere Port Docks to Stanlow Oil Dock where she was observed later in the cruise.
The DANIEL ADAMSON departed around 09:30 and headed down stream towards Eastham Locks – as we approached the locks CLYDE FISHER was already running down to river level. Engines stopped DANIEL ADAMSON drifted slowly down towards the locks.
After waiting for CLYDE FISHER to exit Eastham Lock the DANIEL ADAMSON entered, being secured at 10:28. Vessels observed at Eastham included four Carmet Tugs MSC VOLANT, MSC VICEROY, MSC VICTORY and MSC VIKING, the latter two tugs having brought CLYDE FISHER down the canal. Also present at Eastham was the shabby MSC48 barge and Carmet’s work vessel CT VECTOR.
At Eastham Locks, the Manchester Ship Canal pilot disembarked to be replaced by three Mersey River pilots. The Mersey pilots would remain with the DANIEL ADAMSON until our return to Eastham. Ropes let go at 10:43 and off down the Mersey we headed passing the remains of the Eastham Ferry terminal closed in 1929.
Passing the former McTay Ship Yard, now another part of the Carmet business, Njord Offshore support vessel NJORD ALPHA could be viewed sat on the slipway as a speed boat passed on the port side.
Arklow Shipping’s ARKLOW FUTURE was noted heading upstream, she turned and proceeded to berth at Mersey Wharf which is the river wall facility at Bromborough created to replace the enclosed Bromborough Docks closed in 1986.
The DANIEL ADAMSON started to turn towards the Garston Channel at 11:22.
Approaching from the mouth of the river at this time was the large oil tanker ATINA accompanied by Svitzer tugs.
After turning out of Eastham Channel and across the River Mersey DANIEL ADAMSON headed off down the Garston Channel.
On Riverside Drive a minor road traffic drama was observed involving a Keepings’ coach. Keepings is a coach operator from Mountain Ash, Wales. Other Keepings vehicles were observed on Riverside Drive in the vicinity of the Britannia Public House.
However, one particularly long 6-wheel vehicle was stuck at the bottom of the approach to the new coach parking area which created a year or so ago on the site of a previous car park. Observing through binoculars the rear end of the 6-wheel vehicle had grounded which had necessitated the attendance of two police cars and a recovery truck. A technician was observed examining the twin back wheels.
The cruise continued down Garston Channel and the DANIEL ADAMSON attracted the gaze of people walking the Otterspool Promenade including those in a larger group around the “Sitting Bull” sculpture at the south end of the promenade. We continued past the Grassendale and Cressington Esplanades which serve one of Liverpool’s oldest gated communities which date back to the 1850s, then on to enter the Port of Garston by the sole remaining river entrance.
When the DANIEL ADAMSON arrived in the Stalbridge Dock an announcement Informed passengers that due to tidal constraints we would not proceed into Old Dock or North Dock. There were only two vessels present in ABP Garston. The Norwegian cargo ship FRI BERGEN and visible at the far end of North Dock the former Mersey Ferry ROYAL DAFFODIL (ex OVERCHURCH) which is still the process of undergoing conversion into a floating hospitality venue and has renamed DAFFODIL.
It was a little disappointing not to be able to sail up to the DAFFODIL for a closer look, but “compensation” occurred later in the cruise with an extension up the Manchester Ship Canal to Stanlow.
As the DANIEL ADAMSOMN retraced its route the errant coach, noted earlier, had been moved and was now with the other Keepings’ Coaches on Riverside Drive though the recovery truck and police cars had moved to the coach park.
At Tranmere Oil Terminal the Svitzer tugs were in the final stages of berthing the oil tanker ATTINA. We entered Eastham Channel around 13:39 and headed towards the locks. The site of the former Job’s Ferry landing marked by sandstone steps and the remains of a quay wall could be seen north of Eastham. This ancient Mersey ferry route dating back to the 1300s.
By the time the DANIEL ADAMSON passed Eastham Ferry on the return the area around the Eastham Ferry Hotel and The Tap public house were very busy with plenty of “gongoozlers” observing our passage back to Eastham Locks.
Around this time Carmet’s work boat VIXEN passed outbound from the Manchester Ship Canal well loaded with cargo. DANIEL ADAMSON was secure in Eastham Lock at 13:39. Reaching the canal level took about 13 minutes. Whilst in the lock the three Mersey pilots left the vessel and the Manchester Ship Canal pilot joined.
DANIEL ADAMSON then headed off up the
canal but did not stop at Ellesmere Port proceeding to Stanlow where tankers ALYNA MERCAN and FURE FLAYDEN were observed in Stanlow Oil Dock whilst SLOMAN HERAKLES was berthed on the canal.
DANIEL ADAMSON turned at the entrance to the Stanlow Oil Dock around 14:38 and headed back to Ellesmere Port where she was made fast at 15:08.
All in all, the trip was highly satisfying and undertaken in perfect weather conditions – an excellent day out.
If you have not sailed on the DANIEL ADAMSON yet you really must make the effort!
