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Gosport Ferry

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The Gosport Ferry is more than a transport link; it’s a vital piece of local history. There has been some form of ferry operating across Portsmouth Harbour since the 1500s. Once the naval base and dockyard started to develop under the reign of Henry VIII, crossing the water gained prominence as many of the dockyard and naval men lived in Gosport. At this time, all passengers and goods were transported across the harbour by ‘watermen’ in ‘wherries’ (double-ended rowing boats). In 1840, the waterman’s monopoly came to an end with the launch of a ‘floating bridge’ crossing the harbour every 15 minutes for 14 hours per day.

Facts:

  1. Today, the Gosport Ferry operates 18 ½ hours every day, with a service every 15 minutes.
  2. The Gosport Ferry makes approximately 54,000 crossings per annum.
  3. If Gosport’s three ferries were placed end to end, they would be the height of Big Ben!
  4. The Gosport Ferry transports up to 3.5 million passengers annually.
  5. The engine that runs the ferries is actually a Scania lorry engine that has been ‘marinised’.
  6. At one time, the Gosport Ferry had three generations of one family working together: father, son and grandson.
  7. The ferry takes foot passengers (plus dogs), bicycles, scooters, and motorbikes. Plus, motorized and standard wheelchairs.
  8. The ferry has transported many famous people, including Timmy Mallet, Robert Pugh, Timothy Spall, Jayne Middlemiss, Neil Ruddock, Hugh Dennis, Jack Straw ex MP (Foreign Secretary), and Prince William – visiting as ambassador for the Submarine Museum and HMS Alliance Fundraiser.
  9. The ‘Veth Z Drive’ propulsion system means that the ferry can quite literally ‘turn on a sixpence’.
  10. The fleet includes the iconic Spirit of Gosport and Spirit of Portsmouth.
  11. Adjacent to the ferry terminal sits a clock tower, which was gifted by the Gosport Ratepayers’ Association in 1890.

Visitor Information:
Address: Gosport Ferry terminal, South Street, PO12 1EP
Opening hours: Ferries run seven days a week from 5:30am to midnight, every 15 minutes.
Parking: South Street car park (short stay) or Walpole Park Car Park (long stay).

Also nearby:
Gosport High Street, Haslar Marina, and The Royal Navy Submarine Museum

More information:
Gosport Ferry

The information on this page was collated from public records, in collaboration with partners and friends of various locations. While we strive for accuracy, if you notice any information that requires amending, please contact Gosport Borough Council.