Ferry Cross The Mersey for Derelict Sunday

During a long bike ride today taking in both Woolwich and Greenwich foot tunnels (see route in extras), we came across the carcass of a boat on the Thames at Woolwich. We were just able to make out the faded and cracked name as Royal Iris, and it turns out she had quite the history. Such a sad end.

The MV Royal Iris was a twin screw, diesel-electric, Mersey Ferry launched in December 1950 licensed to carry 2,296 passengers on normal ferry duties, or 1,000 for cruising.

Onboard amenities included a dance floor and stage, tea room, buffet, cocktail bar, even a fish and chip saloon, the latter likely affording Royal Iris the nickname "the fish and chip boat".

During the 1960s numerous acts associated with the Merseybeat scene performed on the ferry, Duke Duval played on the first Cavern Cruise, followed by The Beatles and Gerry & The Pacemakers. Paul McCartney even referenced performing with the Beatles on the ferry in his song "That Was Me".

On 21 June 1977, Royal Iris carried Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh on their Silver Jubilee Mersey Review.

During the early 1990s, the ageing Royal Iris, the last ex-Wallasey vessel, was considered surplus to requirements because of the cost of bringing it up to modern standards after a major survey and ran a farewell evening cruise on 12 January 1991, prior to being taken out of service and laid up awaiting confirmation of its fate. Various owners filed plans for her conversion in to a floating nightclub, and in 2002 the vessel was towed to a berth on the River Thames near Woolwich, awaiting a possible refit.

In February 2010 the Police were called as the Iris was taking on water and evidence was found to suggest that squatters had been living on board. In 2014, Royal Iris was still settled on the mudbank with a hole in her lower side. The cost of taking the vessel back to Merseyside was estimated to be a significant six figure sum, and, according to a local Member of Parliament, was unlikely to go ahead.

2021 - still moored at her berth at Woolwich and increasingly derelict.