Wooden paddle steamer Hero of Liverpool, built Lomax & Wilson, Liverpool & Tranmere, 1826,
80 x 17 x 7ft, about 100 tons.
Was advertised as serving Douglas from Liverpool in 1827; then
Hoylake in 1828.
Described as on the Egremont ferry service from 1830.
The Egremont[Wallasey] Ferry service was started in 1830 with steamer
Loch Eck [built Wood & Ritchie, Port Glasgow, 1829], Hero was advertised
as available later in 1830, then John Rigby [built Humble & Hurry 1831]
was added in 1831. The service was run as Egremont Steam Ferry [or
Packet] Company from
1835.
Then described as a Mostyn Packet in 1833-4. At that date,
paddle steamers were general purpose: used as ferries, on coastal
voyages and to tow sailing vessels. There are complaints from Egremont
ferry users in 1833 and 1834 of delays caused by one of the two ferries on the
service being unavailable since towing or having gone to Mostyn.
Dedicated towing companies were only set up at Liverpool from 1836.
Voyage Liverpool to Mostyn [Dee estuary] with machinery and cotton,
6 May 1835, developed leak, towed towards shore by steamers Richmond and then Druid, but sank. Crew saved. Location
described as 5 fathoms deep, in Hilbre Swash, ten miles from Wirral
shore, near the Floating Light.
[from Gore's Liverpool General Advertiser - Thursday 31 August 1826 -- 5 Oct]:
ON SALE and now lying in Tranmere Bay. A STEAM BOAT [not named] Which was launched about
three weeks ago. Of the following dimensions:
Length for Measurement 80FT 3 IN
Beam 16 10
Depth 7
(Measures about 105 tons)
The above boat was built under
contract, in all of the best materials, and of light draft of water.
Apply to the builders LOMAX and WILSON, west side Salthouse Dock..
[from Gore's Liverpool General Advertiser - Thursday 05 July 1827]: ISLE OF MAN STEAM PACKET. The new steam packet HERO, Mark Cosnahan Commander, will sail from George's Dock Pierhead with goods and passengers for Douglas on Sunday Morning the 8th July inst at eight o'clock. The Hero is the only Steam-packet that goes into Douglas harbour, passengers by her will have the advantage of landing on the Pier, and avoiding the danger and inconvenience of boats in the Bay. Her accommodations are commodious and every attention will be paid to the convenience and comfort of passengers. Fare in the cabin 10s 6d. Deck 5s.
[from Liverpool Mercury - Friday 04 July 1828]: HOYLAKE STEAM-PACKET. Regular Conveyance, twice every day, between LIVERPOOL and HOYLAKE - Calling at the MAGAZINES, To take in and land Passengers by the new and elegant Steam Packet HERO. E. EVANS
[from Liverpool Mercury - Friday 30 April 1830]: TO THE PUBLIC. A BOAT will commence plying between Egremont Ferry and the Stairs north side of the entrance into George's Basin, TOMORROW (Saturday) the 1st of May. The owner of the ferry authorises me to state that as soon as the HERO is complete, she will also ply. When that takes place the terms for ferrying will be announced, and the public may depend on the strictest attention to the regulations. At the commencment, the Boat will leave every hour, begining at eight in the morning, and running until dark in the evening. THOMAS WALKER.
Investigation by Liverpool Corporation [from Liverpool Albion - Monday 11 November 1833]: Mr Askew, harbour master, had been involved in steam navigation of the river, but he stated that he had, as requested, disposed of all his vessels between 1st April 1831 and some time in 1832. He had sold 2 vessels to Mr Stanley Gardner: Loch Eck for £1600 and John Rigby for £2000, on which he held a mortgage for nearly the whole amount; he had also sold 2 steam vessels to his nephew - the Hero for £2000 [it having cost him £3000] on which had a full mortgage and another for £1600, on which he had a mortgage for £1500.
[from Chester Courant - Tuesday 14 January 1834]: The HERO STEAM PACKET, will leave the Egremont Slip, north side of George's Dock Basin, Liverpool, on THURSDAY, the 16th January, at 11 o'clock in the morning, and for the convenience of Dealers visiting the Holywell Great Markets, will return to Liverpool at half-past three o'clock in the afternoon of the following day.
[from Gore's Liverpool General Advertiser - Thursday 07 May 1835]: Loss of the Hero steam-boat. The Hero steam-boat from Liverpool to Mostyn left George's Pier on Wednesday morning about 3 o'clock with a cargo of cotton and machinery for the Holywell Mills near Mostyn. About five o'clock [6 May 1835], when off the NE buoy - it was discovered that from the starting of a plank, or some other cause unknown, a leak had sprung, and the water was gaining fast. Every exertion was made to keep her clear, but it was found of no avail. On hoisting a signal of distress, the Richmond post-office tender [built 1834] came up, and took her in tow, with the intention of running her in ashore. While thus employed, the Druid, a steam-vessel in the same employ as the Hero, came to her assistance, and took the crew on board, whose escape may be considered most providential. Having got her on the Swash, about ten miles from the Cheshire shore, she sank in five fathoms water. Too much praise cannot[sic] be awarded to Mr. Little, the owner, who happened to be on board; he displayed, when the danger was most imminent, the greatest coolness and intrepidity.
Replacement for sunk Hero [from Chester Chronicle Friday 07 August 1835]: STEAM CONVEYANCE. THE BLACK DIAMOND STEAM PACKET, will commence running between MOSTYN and LIVERPOOL, Monday next, the 10th instant; and will leave Mostyn on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays; and from Liverpool, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. The time of starting from Mostyn will from one hour, to one hour and a half before high water, and from Liverpool, from four hours and a half to five hours before high water. This Packet is newly built of the best and strongest materials, and will found a safe, expeditious, and pleasant mode of conveyance.
A replacement Hero (247grt, built 1821, Medway), was obtained in 1836 by Liverpool Steam Towing Company.