The Story of the Mary Gordon Electric River Boat
The Mary Gordon electric river boat is the oldest electrically powered craft still in existence. Having been saved many times from destruction, she is now being restored, to carry passengers on Britain's oldest canal, the Fossdyke, in Lincoln.
The Mary Gordon was built in 1898 on the Thames of teak planking on oak frames, by Sergeants, boatbuilders of Eel Pie Island. At that time electric boats or launches were very popular on the Thames and The Mary Gordon was one of the largest, at 52 ft. (11 m.). She could carry 75 adults or 120 children in comfort. Diagrams from The Electrical Engineer October 5th 1900, show plan and elevation.
More information on the manufacture of the Mary Gordon and the source of her power here.
Electric boats or launches - fuelled by a massive array of batteries, were really in demand in the 1890s. The latest technology, they were made for all uses, including expensive private launches for wealthy posers and naval vessels. The technology led to the major development of the submarine. Electric powered boats are now back in favour as far less polluting than oil fuelled engines.
The Mary Gordon had been commissioned by Leeds City Council, to use on Waterloo Lake in their newly acquired Roundhay Park. In 1899, the Mary Gordon was transported up to Yorkshire on the back of a steam lorry, to Roundhay Park, Leeds. Roundhay Park had been purchased by Leeds City Council to be used as a public park and was opened by Prince Arthur in 1872. (The park is still immensely popular as you can spend all day in the massive tropical conservatory).
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| This photo shows the Mary Gordon boat ready for launching. It was taken on a foggy winter day with a long exposure so the figures are blurred. The lady on the left is Mary Gordon wife of the Mayor of Leeds, after whom the boat was named. Cables stretch across the path from the boat to a device by her which would release the boat into Waterloo lake sideways. |
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| In 1914, the beginning of World War I, the Mary Gordon was fitted with a trial 8 to 10 horse power Alpha marine motor. This was from the Blackburn Aeroplane Company (later British Aerospace), then in Balm Road, Leeds. They specialised mainly in the development of Naval bombers, other sea planes and flying boats. As you can see in the photo, the trial engine was complete with propellor - and does not look very safe. |
In 1923 the Mary Gordon was sold to Stephen Askew, a Wakefield cinema owner. He moved her on a wagon drawn by six horses from the Roundhay Park to the "Potato Basin" on the River Aire, Leeds, then she was taken to Wakefield. Askew had the Mary Gordon fitted with a petrol engine and ran her on half-hour Sunday trips on the River Calder between Chantry Bridge and Kikthorpe Weir. (This information from Edward Hawthorne: Electric Boats on the Thames). The Mary Gordon is next found in York, on the River Ouse.
Frank Baines, Esmond Bates and Mark Woodcock brought the Mary Gordon to Lincoln in 1943. The middle of World War II, this trip which took five days, was complicated by paperwork, 26 different bits of paper were demanded by the War Department.
The Mary Gordon was missing windows and doors. These and a new deck canopy were added by Frank Baines. The cabin was, like the hull, built from teak, and had clerestory skylight and stained glass panels featuring birds and fish.
The Mary Gordon was fitted with a new engine, a marinised Model T Ford engine, running on petrol, later modified to run on paraffin.
For annual maintenance, Frank Baines constructed a slipway on the side of the Fossebank.
The Mary Gordon took parties of up to 36 passengers between Gainsborough, Lincoln and Boston - wherever they wished to go.
She also took many children and families on holiday trips between Lincoln and Gainsborough. VE Day 1945, was celebrated with free trips for all.
| Here is the Mary Gordon docking at Gainsborough. |
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To work on the tidal River Trent, Frank Baines fitted a second Model T Ford engine and the wing mountings are still evident.
Eventually, the sandy Trent river took its toll on the prop shafts and trips were restricted to the Fossdyke canal with just the one engine. A Kelvin 40hp motor was fitted.
In 1948 Frank Baines sold the Mary Gordon to the legendary William 'Skipper' Ross Hendry and it is during the period of his ownership that most people remember her, taking thousands of Lincoln folk between the Brayford Pool and the Pyewipe Inn or Saxilby.
| Here is the Mary Gordon in the Brayford taking holiday makers on a trip in 1948. |
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Many tales are still told of the old Skipper's colourful character. Passengers would be told on arrival at the Pyewipe that the Mary Gordon would be returning to Lincoln in 20 minutes. Often, over an hour later passengers would still be waiting on the boat whilst the Skipper was still in the bar. On at least one occasion, a passenger had to be recruited to steer the boat back to Brayford Pool.
The landlord at the Pyewipe began charging a penny deposit on bottles and glasses, and the Skipper soon realized that this could be a lucrative sideline. "All aboard! Ladies and Gentlemen. Bring your glasses and bottles with you!" was the cry. On the next trip, Skipper Ross would take back all the empty glasses and bottles and claim the deposits.
For more than twenty years the Mary Gordon plied between Lincoln and Saxilby, giving many Lincoln children their first experience of a boat trip. Many of those children have fond memories of this important part of their childhood.
Watch film of the Mary Gordon on the Fossdyke in the 1960s.
| Skipper Ross entertains small boys on Brayford Wharf, in front of the Mary Gordon - a classic picture taken by the Lincolnshire Echo. |
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Dressed up in flags, the Mary Gordon took part in all the water carnivals in the Brayford during the 1960's.
(The Friends of the Mary Gordon are interested in any memories of trips in the boat and any stories and information.)
Sadly Skipper Ross was knocked down by a car, and never fully recovered, dying shortly afterwards.
In 1969, the Mary Gordon was sold to Tony Ellis. He continued the trips from the Brayford for a short time, but then sold her to a local consortium. They planned to take her by water to London. The Mary Gordon never made it further than Nottingham.
Abandoned, sinking into the Trent, the Mary Gordon lost her cabin top and many of her original fittings.
In the late 1970's she was rescued from her watery grave in the Trent by Graham Mackereth.
In the 1980's she was taken by road to Hartlepool, where British Shipbuilding Apprentices were given the task of restoring her. The work was sponsored by Leeds City Council who had hoped to see the Mary Gordon restored to giving pleasure boat trips to visitors to Roundhay Park.
| Here you see the shipbuilding apprentices at work on the Mary Gordon | 
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The apprentices at Hartlepool had got as far as replacing most of the teak planks below the waterline with larch, and fitting new oak ribs.
The scheme was wound up following the cessation of shipbuilding on the Tees. The Mary Gordon was once more abandoned. There were no facilities to store her, and her ownership was uncertain. She was due to be dumped and burnt.
Once more the Mary Gordon was rescued by Graham Mackereth who took her back to his boat yard at Preston Brook, Cheshire.
In May 1999, Graham Mackereth offered the century old Mary Gordon to the people of Lincoln. At a public meeting in the Pyewipe Inn, over 40 people tuned up to express their interest in restoring the Mary Gordon and seeing her back on the Brayford once more.
The Friends of the Mary Gordon and the charitable body, the Mary Gordon Trust were formed.
The Mary Gordon was purchased from Graham Mackereth for the nominal sum of one pound.
| The boat was brought back to Lincoln by KDJ Haulage. |
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| arrived at the Pyewipe |  |
| and was craned into position by Abba Plant Hire Ltd. |  |
Both companies gave their services free of charge.
Recognising the Mary Gordon's historic importance, she has been included in the National Register of Historic Vessels - a notable achievement.
In January 2003, the Mary Gordon Trust was awarded a grant from Lincolnshire County Council.
In March, 2006, the Mary Gordon Trust was awarded a grant of £23,600 from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
It is planned that the boat, fitted with an electric motor as it was when first built over a hundred years ago and remembered so fondly by many Lincoln people, will eventually be moored at the Sea Cadets Headquarters on Brayford Pool in the heart of Lincoln. It will be available for use by schools, groups and organisations for educational and recreational purposes and will show the importance of Lincoln's waterways in its industrial development, the environmental benefits of electricity for propulsion and the wildlife of the waterways, as well as being an icon and a "flagship" for Lincoln.
Further reports and updates on the progress of the restoration of the Mary Gordon.
Now you can:
| This Mary Gordon Website designed and maintained by Heather Hobden | The Cosmic Elk  |