Appledore Ferry Swiftsure

Swiftsure is a 26-foot wooden passenger ferry built by Hinks of Appledore in 1951–52 for the Appledore–Instow ferry service. Entering service in February 1952, she was commissioned to meet increased demand during the construction of Yelland Power Station and was licensed to carry up to 36 passengers. Swiftsure remained in service on the River Torridge for almost sixty years and is regarded as an important character of Appledore's maritime heritage.

Following the end of her service on the River Torridge in 2011, Swiftsure was sold and relocated to the Isle of Wight, where she continued operating as a passenger water taxi. Today, a restoration campaign has returned the vessel to Appledore, with the aim of preserving her. The project seeks to restore the historic ferry for future generations, celebrating both the vessel itself and the communities it served for nearly six decades.

Go Fund Me campaign // Facebook Page