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Built in 1952 by the famous Hinks Boatbuilding yard at Appledore in North Devon (alongside sister boat 'Donald' who now operates as a ferry out of Lynmouth). (The same boatyard had previously built one of our other boats Emily in the 1920’s and famously built replicas of Sir Francis Drakes Golden Hinde and the Nonsuch which was the first trading ship of the Hudson Bay Company.)
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Margaret was originally built to replace a passenger launch which was one of the 9 boats wrecked in the devastating Lynmouth flood of August 1952. Such boats used to transport passengers from the North Devon Beach to the Pleasure steamers anchored offshore.
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As this trade declined Margaret made her way to the River Avon to become one of the Lamplighter / Pill ferries taking dock workers across the river between Shirehampton and Pill. This service ceased in the early 1970’s with the opening of the Avonmouth Motorway Bridge and Margaret was in danger of being left to rot on the mud.
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As the potential for a revived passenger ferry service in Bristol was realised – she was bought by the City Docks Venturers in 1977, rescued and renovated; and became the first of the famous Yellow and Blue Bristol Ferry Boats.
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Featured on a postage stamp in the early 1980s!
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In 2005 she was given a new engine and in 2008 a new keel so she should be good for another 50 years - A true West Country survivor with a fascinating working history.
