Jan 26, 2015 on 25th july 1959, with christopher cockerel piloting it, the srn1 hovercraft completed the first journey across the english channel by hovercraft, going from calais to dover in a time of 2 hours. Hoverspeed ferry booking, timetables and seacat ferry tickets. Taking the hovercraft from dover, england to calais, france. Hoverspeed operated a ferry service between england and france, linking the ports of dover and calais. In 1982, seaspeed and hoverlloyd merged to become hoverspeed, owned by sealink. Only went on one once and that was enough for me was a. Dover history archive the archive is a searchable collection of notes, images, articles and books documenting the towns history. Hovercraft at dover hoverport 1980s dovers history. Shipping company hoverspeed is cancelling its hovercraft crossings between the british port of dover and calais in france, saying the vessels are. The hovercraft were withdrawn from service in 2000. A day trip to france, watching the hovercraft in calais negotiating rough seas.
Cars were loaded onto the dover calais car ferry by crane. The two hovercraft that have travelled between dover and calais for. Hoverports page from the first commercial crosschannel hovercraft operated by seaspeed, a division of the government run british rail at the time, dover has had a hoverport of some description. The busiest ferry route to france is the dover to calais crossing with approximately 9,168,000 passengers using the service in 2018. Within weeks of its launch the hovercraft crossed the english channel from calais to dover. The dover to calais ferry route allows direct travel from england to france. Museum of naval firepower or little woodham living history. But a cool experience, nonetheless saved from uploaded by user.
How rival companies vied to offer the fastest way across the channel skimming across the english channel in a huge plume of spray, a hovercraft in full flight was a magnificent sight. Dover calais ferry hoverspeed, a british shipping company that operated hovercraft and catamarans dover calais ferry seaspeed, hovercraft services operated by british rail in conjunction with french railway operator sncf dover calais ferry myferrylink, a french passenger and freight ferry company. Hoverspeed was a ferry company that operated on the english channel from 1981 until 2005. Seaspeed ran from dover, and hoverlloyd ran from ramsgate. Jun 05, 2011 a 2009 tv program about the english channel hovercraft b8c c04st s04 e01. Frenchman jeanpierre blanchard and american john jeffries fly dover to calais.
Giant hovercraft retire after 30 years of channel crossings. A hovercraft, also known as an aircushion vehicle or acv, is an amphibious craft capable of travelling over land, water, mud, ice, and other surfaces hovercraft use blowers to produce a large volume of air below the hull, or air cushion, that is slightly above atmospheric pressure. Hoverspeed last operated hovercraft on its dover to calais service. Weather damage to hovercraft gh2007 the princess anne while crossing from calais to dover on 29 february. Hoverspeeds prince of wales takes to the water or rather, just above it on another thirty five minute crossing to france, whilst running mate the sir christopher waits on the pad for her next flight. Sir christophers prototype first made the crossing from dover to calais on 25 july 1959 the 50th anniversary of the first powered flight across the channel. Dovercalais ferry seaspeed, hovercraft services operated by british rail in conjunction with french railway operator sncf. This date was very significant, not only in the history of transport, but also in the history of dover, as it was 50 years to the day after the. Book by 30th june 2020 for travel between 1st april and 15 july 2020. Last of the crosschannel hovercraft could be destroyed after government seizes museum land the giant srn4 craft travelled from dover to france from 1968 until october 2000, but are now. Travel with eurotunnel le shuttle folkestone to calais in just 35 minutes. The port of dover is the crosschannel port situated in dover, kent, southeast england. Brings back memories as i made lots of trips,the funny thing about the jean bertin or jb as it was known when we used to book it at dover priory is you never booked anyone on it,as it was a miracle if it ever ran. Calais possesses direct rail links to paris, 148 miles 238 km to the south.
The two firms would compete with one another, as well as incumbent ferry operators, for market share. Ferries from great britain also sail to belgium, the netherlands, norway, spain and ireland. The dover to calais cross channel route is the quickest way to cross the channel between two populated and easily. The last flight of the hovercraft out of dover the princess margarets last ever trip to calais was on sunday 1 october 2000 it is 10 years since the final flight of a hovercraft out of dover. Both srn4 mark iii craft remain the largest hovercraft in the world, and they continue to offer frequent daily service on the english channels dover calais route. When it was reported last month that the last two dover to boulogne hovercraft were set to be scrapped, it was hard to imagine that the princess. If you are interested in experiencing hovercraft travel, you can book hovertravel crossings from portsmouth southsea to the isle of wight. Aug 29, 2019 online shopping from a great selection at books store. I used to see them everyday as i used to be the kitchen help in 80s making hundreds of sandwiches each day and so on. Dover to calais ferry tickets, compare times and prices direct ferries. Up to 4 shuttles per hour, and direct motorway access. It is the nearest english port to france, at just 34 kilometres 21 mi away, and is one of the worlds busiest passenger ports, with 11. Early hovercraft operations out of dover by townsend to calais ran from a base in the north east corner of the camber in dover eastern docks but these did not last long and townsend themselves never followed up an option to purchase the carcarrying srn4 craft being developed in the 1960s.
The worlds first metal hovercraft crossed from calais to dover in two hours on 25 july 1959 with its inventor sir christopher cockerel on board. The srn1 used the beaches at dover for its historic landing, as have a few other craft over the years, but for no permanent base. The british invention that dominated the english channel. Our dover ferries take just 90 minutes to calais, and 2 hours to dunkirk and our ferries from newhaven to dieppe take just 4 hours. Sir christopher cockrells invention revolutionised channel crossings, often completing the 26mile voyage in less than 35 minutes. The hoverport site then lay abandoned for the second time in its thirty year history until demolition of the site. A vessel currently subject to a campaign to save from developers.
See more ideas about boat, amphibious vehicle and water crafts. Heritage railway ground effects landing craft steam railway short trip isle of wight my town calais france england. There is nothing quite like travelling by hovercraft and it is an experience worth having just for the sake of it. On 25th july 1959, with christopher cockerel piloting it, the srn1 hovercraft completed the first journey across the english channel by hovercraft, going from calais to dover in a time of 2 hours. In july, 1998, hoverspeed fast ferries celebrated 30 years of service by its first commercial hovercraft, the princess margaret a sister to the princess anne, shown above. Bbc the last flight of the hovercraft out of dover. The story of hoverlloyd and the crosschannel hovercraft kindle edition by paine, robin, syms, roger. We supply hovercraft for military, patrol, search rescue, fire fighting, commercial and leisure solutions. Hovercraft end 30 years of crosschannel journeys telegraph. Dovercalais ferry myferrylink, a french passenger and freight ferry company. Seaspeed set up a base at dover offering an even shorter crossing time than its rival along the coast. Christopher was educated at greshams school, holt, norfolk. From medieval times, english companies thrived in calais. Ferry to france from the uk book a ferry to france dfds.
Take flight from ryde or southsea to the hovercraft museum in leeonthesolent and spend the day marvelling at over 50 historic hovercraft, or why not enjoy a leisurely bike ride along the beautiful leeonthesolent seafront and visit explosions. In the 1960s, british rail started hovercraft services from dover to calais and boulognesurmer, and also across the solent to the isle of wight. End of dover hoverport hoverports page following the cessation of service of hoverspeed in 2005 and its shortterm use by highspeed ferry company speedferries now no longer trading, the dover west hoverport building, opened in 1978 is finally being demolished to make way for future developments on the land it currently occupies. Last of the crosschannel hovercraft could be destroyed. The two hovercraft that have travelled between dover and calais for more than 30 years begin their final week in service today, forced into retirement by competition from the channel tunnel and passengers demands for more luxury. Hoverlloyd was not the only hovercraft operator that decided to move on the crosschannel market at the time. To compare all available ferry companies on this route, use our dover to calais ferries page. Aug 25, 2010 the last flight of the hovercraft out of dover the princess margarets last ever trip to calais was on sunday 1 october 2000 it is 10 years since the final flight of a hovercraft out of dover. Cockerell was born in cambridge, where his father, sir sydney cockerell, was curator of the fitzwilliam museum, having previously been the secretary of william morris. N4 saundersroe nautical 4 hovercraft also known as the mountbatten class hovercraft was a passenger and vehicle carrying class of hovercraft. On a clear day the white cliffs of dover can be viewed across the channel. Fastest crossing of the english channel by hovercraft. It was september 15th 1978, i was 18 and waiting with my elder brother at boulogne hoverport to return to dover england.
The srn1 used the beaches at dover for its historic landing, as have a few other craft over the y. The fantastic hovercraft from dover to calais was an engineering masterpiece that reduced travel time across the channel dramatically compared to the car ferries taking the hovercraft from dover, england to calais, france. Since then more than 80 million people and 12 million cars have crossed the channel by hovercraft. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. The hovercraft is to make its final journey across the english channel on sunday, marking the end of an era. Seaspeed started crosschannel services from dover, england to calais and boulognesurmer, france using srn4 hovercraft in august 1968. Dovercalais ferry hoverspeed, a british shipping company that operated hovercraft and catamarans. It was formed in 1981 by the merger of seaspeed and hoverlloyd. This detailed book delves into the crafts history, from the early days of its development through to its commercial and military applications. Hovertravel provides the fastest isle of wight ferry route across the solent and is the worlds only year round passenger hovercraft service.
Calais was a particularly important centre in the production and trade of wool and cloth, which outweighed the costs of maintaining the town as part of england. The crosschannel service from dover to calais closed in 2000. Hoverspeed book cheap hoverspeed ferry tickets online. They ceased operations in november 2005 after years of losses due to strong competition from other operators and the channel tunnel. After years of losses due to strong competition and dramatic increase in fuel prices, 40 years of service ended with the final crossing in november 2005. An unforgettable and unique way of crossing the english channel. Took this to ostend, belgium in hovercraft from france to england. A hovercraft, also known as an aircushion vehicle or acv, is an amphibious craft capable of travelling over land, water, mud, ice, and other surfaces. A 2009 tv program about the english channel hovercraft b8c c04st s04 e01. Christopher attended the preparatory school of st faiths. If youre interested in history then the fascinating region of normandy, with its rich medieval. Sep 29, 2000 the hovercraft is to make its final journey across the english channel on sunday, marking the end of an era for a unique british invention.
Hoverspeeds primary service was established by british railways owned seaspeed in 1968 with the car carrying srn 4 hovercraft the princess anne and the princess margaret. Sep 12, 2000 shipping company hoverspeed is cancelling its hovercraft crossings between the british port of dover and calais in france, saying the vessels are uncomfortable for passengers and too expensive to. We are continually adding new content so visit again soon and keep an eye on the archive forum for updates. The two hovercraft were named the princess margaret and the princess anne. Seen at pegwell bay in july 1973 is hoverlloyds swift.
The channel was being beaten by a heavy storm, the waves were massive and the wind was incredibly strong. From the first commercial crosschannel hovercraft operated by seaspeed, a division of the government run british rail at the time, dover has had a hoverport of some description. It was always being repaired on the hoverpad in boulogne. Hovercraft use blowers to produce a large volume of air below the hull air cushion that is slightly above atmospheric pressure. Dover to calais ferry the dover to calais ferry route allows direct travel from england to france. The fastest scheduled crossing of the channel by hovercraft was achieved by the princess anne mch srn4 mkiii hovercraft on 14 september 1995, when it completed the dover calais run in 22 minutes for the 10 a. Jul 09, 2010 some old video 8 footage converted to digital 1991 hoverspeed dover calais ferry service hovercraft this was taken in calais france. Only went on one once and that was enough for me was a bad crossing being tossed all over the place.
Dover to calais ferry tickets, compare times and prices. Hovercraft are very versatile craft and the hov pod range of hovercraft are ideal for patrol, rescue, commercial and leisure use. The dover calais ferry route connects england with france and is currently operated by 2 ferry companies. When it reaches land it simply deflates that cushion and sits down. To compare all available ferry companies on this route, use our. The srn1, the first ever hovercraft, is now proudly housed by the science museum and this invention enjoys an active role in many arenas. Srn4 hovercraft princess margaret departing dover summer 2000 highlights from escape from thanet duration. After the war, new drive on ferry terminals were built in dover and calais. A hovercraft is a vessel which skims the water on a three foot cushion of air. Compare dover to calais ferry times, prices and book ferry tickets at. The untold story of the srn4 princess anne hovercraft damaged by storms, by gareth jones. Hoverports page following the cessation of service of hoverspeed in 2005 and its shortterm use by highspeed ferry company speedferries now no longer trading, the dover west hoverport building, opened in 1978 is finally being demolished to make way for future developments on the land it currently occupies. The first two cross channel passenger services started in 1966 with a hoverlloyd service from pegwell bay to calais. Hoverspeed ferry booking, timetables and seacat ferry.
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