Company History

 This line is a resurrection of the Gorleston and Great Yarmouth Steam Boat Company which began before the age of motorised road transport and ran, along with other companies, from our premises on Riverside Road.

The landing and ferry rights here were originally granted by King Henry VIII as a favour to one of his leading courtesans.

 

 Although living memory is now fading, the companies Steam powered vessels ran services locally along the east coast as far as Ipswich and by river to Norwich, Wroxham and Oulton Broad. The boats mainly carried passengers although those craft on the river routes (known locally as Lilly boats) carried some parcels for the royal mail along with small livestock and agricultural supplies for  the more isolated bank cottages and farms. The cargos were especially diverse on market days.

 As time marched on the vessels changed from being a vital part of the areas transport system to catering for the holiday trade which blossomed around the 1900s.

 

The vessel currently in use on the river is the Southern Belle. She was built in 1925 and is typical of the kind of vessel which plied this trade during that earlier period. Although built as a Steamer she was converted to diesel just after the war and is kept that way at the moment for everyday practicality.

 

 In the future it is hoped to expand routes and services by adding more working classic vessels.