Torpoint Ferry - The Time Boat

[Ray]

MC Torpoint Ferry

The old folk tale says the only thing keeping Cornwall linked to England, are the chains of the Torpoint Ferry! That’s probably right, if the truth be known.

The ferry has been transporting travellers across the river Tamar for many a year. Early car ferries were steam powered, giving way in latter years, to the modern ferries of today.

Many years back, the old steam ferries used to end their working day at midnight. This caused a slight problem to the sailors, (matelots) returning to H.M.S. Raleigh and H.M.S Fisgard, returning from a run ashore in Plymouth. From out of the darkness, a rowing boat appears, with two figures on board. A father, with his young son, William, will row the stranded sailors across the river. On the ferry, foot passengers paid only 1 penny, in the old L.S.D. money. For the same amount, William and his father did the same.

The Time Boat

Darkness falls, across a calm Hamoaze,
Black is the night, no stars impose.
Tides that flow, by the lunar station,
From the dawn of time, post creation.

The ferry that sleeps, by the Cornish shore,
Rattle of its chains, are heard no more.
A cry of “Ahoy”, echo’s from the Devon beach,
The last ferry gone, to Cornwall must reach.

Raleigh sailors returning, a boatman they ask,
To row them across, a thankful task.
A man and his son, with no money, not any,
To row them across, the fare, one penny.

Based on a true story.

www.mysticdevon.com.