Packet Boats
The Lancaster Packets were one of the Lancaster Canals most notable achievements. Until the coming of the railways, they were recognised as a superior alternative to travelling by road.
The Swift Packet Boat "Waterwitch"
The packet boats began service in 1798 between Preston and Lancaster. This was extended to Kendal when the canal opened throughout in 1819. Travelling at a sedate 4½ miles per hour, passengers could leave Preston at 6am and arrive in Kendal at 8pm in time to catch the 'coach to the north'.
In April 1833 the first of the new Swift Boats “Water Witch” was introduced on the service. Based on Houston's swift boats, the boats were 70ft long and 6ft wide, with a thin iron hull that weighed less than 1.75 tons, and a loaded draught of only 16.75in. To save weight, covered cabin and steerage accommodation was provided by stretching oiled cloth over curved ribs, with spaces left for windows. There was also open seating in the bows, and baggage accommodation under the bow and stern decks.
Pulled by two horses which were changed at stables situated every 4 miles along the canal, the journey time for the 57 miles was initially reduced to 10 hours, with the section from Lancaster to Preston covered in something over 3 hours for the 30 miles, an average of between 9 and 10 miles per hour.
An advertisement announced:
'The packet will leave Kendal at 6 o'clock in the morning and Lancaster at 1 o'clock every Monday, Wednesday and Friday and arrive at Preston soon after 4 o'clock and will leave Preston at half past 9 o'clock and Lancaster at 1 o'clock every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday and arrive at Kendal at half past 7 o'clock'.
By July the journey time was reduced still further to 7 hours, so that the boat could leave Kendal at 6am to reach Preston for 1pm, turning round to leave again at 1.30pm and be back in Kendal for 8.45pm to provide a daily service. Refreshments were provided and in cold weather the cabin was heated. In winter an ice boat pulled by 11 horses kept the canal from freezing.
'Whole length' fares were 6 shillings for the first class cabin, 4 shillings second, and half price between Kendal or Preston and Lancaster. For shorter distances the fares were 1½ pence and 1 penny per mile respectively. A parcel service cost 1 shilling per item for the whole length and half price (6 pence) between either end and Lancaster delivered free of porterage.
Business boomed and two more boats “Swallow” and “Swiftsure” were added to the service. The approach of the railway, which reached Preston in 1838, led to a temporary increase in business. A fourth boat “Crewdson”, named after a prominent Kendal businessman, was provided to connect with the North Union train at Preston. Packet boat fares were halved to 3 shillings (fore cabin) and 2 shillings (aft cabin).
In 1839 the Lancaster Canal were operating a twice-daily Swift Boat service between Kendal and Preston, with a third boat between Lancaster and Preston. At Preston, omnibuses worked between the canal wharf and the railway stations, for connecting trains to and from Liverpool or Manchester, the latter in turn connecting with others for Birmingham. Coaches to Bolton and Chorley also met the canal packets.
When the railway reached Lancaster in 1840, the Canal Company lost no Kendal trade despite a cut rate combined rail and coach fare of 4 shillings to the town.
All came quickly to an end. On the same day as the railway opened to Kendal (21st September 1846) passenger packets ceased plying. The packet boat “Waterwitch II” continued as an inspection boat right into the 1930s.