Page:History of the Fylde of Lancashire (IA historyoffyldeof00portiala).pdf/277

 Consort," each of which was 300 tons register, and 350 horse-power, the fares being, cabin, 17s.; and deck, 4s. The Dublin trip was performed once, and afterwards twice, a week each way, by the iron steamship "Hibernia," which called off Douglas, Isle of Man, to land passengers, but after a year's trial this communication was closed. In the summer of 1845, an Isle of Man line was opened by the steamship "Orion," which ran daily, except Sundays; and at the same season the Belfast boats commenced to make the double journey four days a week, whilst the Londonderry route was abandoned. As early as 1840, on the completion of the Preston and Wyre Railway, a daily steam communication had been established to Bardsea, as the nearest point to Ulverston and the Lakes; and in the month of September, 1846, on the completion of Piel Pier, it was transferred to that harbour, and continued by the steamship "Ayrshire Lassie," of 100 horse-power, the fares being, saloon, 2s.; and deck, 1s. In the following year this boat was superseded by a new steamer, the "Helvellyn," of 50 tons register and 75 horse-power, which continued to ply for many years, in fact, almost until this summer line was closed, at a comparatively recent date, about eight or ten years ago. The Fleetwood and Ardrossan steamers discontinued running in 1847, and at the same time an extra boat, the "Fenella," was placed on the Isle of Man route, whilst the Belfast trips were reduced to three double journeys per week. After a few years experience the Isle of Man line, a season one only, was given up; but the Belfast trade, continually growing, soon obliged the company to increase the number of trips, and step by step to enlarge and improve the boat accommodation. We need not trace through its different stages the gradual and satisfactory progress of this line, but our object will be sufficiently attained by stating that the two steamships were shortly increased to three. Afterwards larger and finer boats, having greater power, took the places of the original ones, and at the present day the fleet consists of four fine steamers of fully double the capacity of the original ones, which cross the channel from each port every evening except Sunday.

In the year 1874 the whole of the interests of Frederick Kemp, esq., J.P., of Bispham Lodge, in the Fleetwood and Belfast steam line were acquired by the Lancashire and Yorkshire and