1/12. Welcome to the #SolentHarbours virtual #LowTideTrail around #FortonLake. This creek has an amazing number of vessels (around 30) from barges and lifeboats, to fishing vessels and military craft.
We hope you will enjoy #archaeology from home during the COVID crisis.
We hope you will enjoy #archaeology from home during the COVID crisis.
2/12. Forton Lake is actually a tidal creek, meaning that the water comes and goes each day. It’s fed by sea water coming in from #PortsmouthHarbour. As the tide goes out, the skeletons of abandoned vessels are revealed in the mud. Forton Lake is about 1km in length and 150m wide
3/12. The collection spans over 100 years with boats dating from the 1800’s through to the 1960’s. There are 3 wooden barges, 2 ferries, 2 lifeboats, 3 fishing vessels, 9 military vessels & 4 unclassified vessels.
4/12. But why are the boats here and who was Mr Frederick Watts? He's the main reason there are so many boats here! He had a #boatyard from 1938 to 1959, and bought vessels to be sold, used for parts or scrap. There were also two other boat yards here- on Ferrol Rd & on Parham Rd
5/12. One of the most noticeable vessels is 'Vadne'. It was the old #Gosport to #Portsmouth #Ferry, in use from 1939-1965. Many local people recall travelling on Vadne to work at the dockyard or HMS Vernon Naval College (now #StVincent6thFormCollege) @StVincent6FC @GosportFerry.
6.The Medina Chain Ferry carried passengers over the river #Medina on the #IsleofWight from 1896 to 1909. In 1925, it was sold to famous boat designer #UffaFox. He used it as a boat workshop and lived on it. It was later sold and moved to Forton Lake in 1948. @CowesFloatingBridge
7. A #Pinnace was a smaller boat used to transfer stores and people to larger ships. ‘Pinnace 704’ dates from #WW1. It was #steampowered and fitted with a ‘Yarrow Water Tube Boiler’. These boilers were lighter and made steam quicker than other boilers. @maritimetrust @NatMuseumRN
