Lucy Wood reports…
One of the UK’s premier historic steamships celebrates a double anniversary this year – its 122nd birthday and 10th year back in service after being saved from the scrapyard and restored to working order.
THE Daniel Adamson, a unique combination of Edwardian tugboat and Art Deco passenger ferry, sails back on to the North West rivers and canals this spring for a variety of cruises aimed at all ages and pockets.
Destinations and voyages range from Liverpool city centre docks, across the ocean-like expanse of the River Mersey, through lush green Cheshire countryside on the Weaver Navigation, and to the world-famous Anderton Boat Lift.
The main 2025 season launches with one of three lengthy signature trips, The Cross River Job, departing on May 2 from the vessel’s winter maintenance berth in Sandon Dock, Liverpool, to Vittoria Dock, Birkenhead. It includes tours of both dock systems and the River Mersey.
The trip’s name refers to the pre-container era when large freighters would discharge cargo in Liverpool and then, shepherded by tugs often overnight, would move across to finish unloading in Birkenhead.
In contrast, the next day, May 3, The Cheshire Sheaf cruise will see the vessel, affectionately known as ‘The Danny’, steam from Birkenhead to its summer berth at Sutton Weaver, near Frodsham. Again, the trip name is a historic reference, this time to the grain barges which ran from Birkenhead’s large mills to Frodsham mill.
This year’s programme also takes in the steamboat’s old operating area along the Manchester Ship Canal when it doubled both as top tugboat and directors’ inspection vessel, with trips to both Mode Wheel Lock, near Salford, and to Latchford Locks, near Warrington.
Its welcome appearance in Liverpool’s Albert Dock will feature occasionally in 2025, but public demand means much of the sailing schedule focuses on the River Weaver, via the best of Cheshire’s countryside, with many trips including the Anderton Boat Lift.
Back by popular request is the third of the signature trips, the Little Leigh Steam Party – a wonderful heritage trip on October 4 from Liverpool’s Canning Dock, all the way up to Acton Bridge on the River Weaver where the steamboat will meet up with dozens of fellow historic boats and steam-driven traction engines for the end-of-season steam party on October 20.
The season also features Meet the Brewer cruises celebrating locally produced beer courtesy of HUSH Brewing Co, of Northwich, aimed at not only real ale fans, but also those who simply enjoy a fine pint. These are taking place on May 16, June 25, July 18, twice on August 11, and October 18.
As well as hosting private celebrations, corporate and community events while it is moored at The Royal Albert Dock or its berth at Sutton Weaver Swingbridge, the Daniel Adamson is available for one-hour family trips, costing £5 for children and £10 for adults, on May 5, July 6, August 31 and October 5.
Andrea Ward, director of the Daniel Adamson Preservation Society, said: “There is something for everyone with our 2025 cruises. We have tried to offer cruises to suit all tastes and pockets.
“This year’s offer has been achieved against the tough background of increasing costs, across fuel, maintenance and insurance, and facing into the mandatory 10-year boiler inspection and vessel refit next winter.
“It is crucial for us to have a very successful season in 2025 to allow the lavish care and attention the old lady deserves to ensure she gracefully sails on into the 2030s and beyond.
“We are calling on everyone who loves heritage, maritime history, the local landscape – or just wants to a different kind of day out – to support this fantastic little ship, which has survived beyond all odds and is rooted in the North West. It’s a case of use it or lose it!”
All revenue from the cruises goes towards the ongoing maintenance and running costs of the vessel, as well as subsidising the family and education programmes. The Daniel Adamson Preservation Society is a volunteer-run, not-for-profit charity which bought 1903-built Daniel Adamson for £1 to save the vessel from the scrapman and succeeded in restoring it to full operational condition.
As well as public cruises, it opens to the public when static for tours, talks, family activity days, music events and more, and also runs a programme of learning activities for children and young people.
Cruises are now available to book online at www.thedanny.co.uk/events
The Daniel Adamson was built in 1903 in Birkenhead on the banks of the Mersey for the London North-western Railway Company subsidiary, the Shropshire Union Railway & Canal Co, as the Ralph Brocklebank.
Originally intended to carry passengers and tow large barges of cargo between the owners’ terminus docks at Ellesmere Port and Liverpool, the ship was sold to the Manchester Ship Canal Co in 1920 and was used extensively to assist large ships navigate the Manchester Ship Canal.
The tug tender was extensively refitted as the canal’s inspection launch in the 1930s and fitted with luxurious Art Deco saloons to entertain the great and the good. Eventually, the vessel was retired in late 1984, and after 16 years at the then Ellesmere Port Boat Museum was bought for £1 while facing an uncertain future by a group of enthusiasts.
Its historic significance is recognised nationally, as it is the last operational Mersey-built steam vessel in the country and is the maritime equivalent of a listed building, listed both in the National Historic Ships Register and as one of the elite National Historic Fleet. After many hours of volunteer time and grants from the National Lottery Heritage fund, the ship returned to passenger-carrying service and this September will mark the vessel’s 10th season in public service, ahead of an extensive 10-year overhaul.
