Ferry Mary Anne is the last surviving rowed Windermere ferry, which was the mode of transport used before the steam-powered chain ferry was introduced in 1870. Rowed by oarsmen using large sweeps, another word for oars, these ferries could lower a moveable ramp to facilitate access for people, carriages, goods and animals.  

Ferry Mary Anne remained in use on Windermere until after the Second World War, when it sank near Belle Isle. It was recovered by divers in 1978 and joined the collection of the Windermere Steamboat Museum.  

During this time, Ferry Mary Anne was displayed in an external location where it was exposed to wind and rain. When Lakeland Arts devised a conservation management plan for the vessel, it became clear that it would need a bespoke cradle to support the fragile surviving structure.  

The museum commissioned a photogrammetry survey of Ferry Mary Anne, which uses photographs from fixed points to create accurate measurements that can then be inputted into a 3D computer model. As the original hull has been significantly distorted with age, historic photographs from the museum archives were used to assess the original lines of the boat. Using these combined techniques, the team were able to fabricate a custom cradle which will safely house Ferry Mary Anne for many years to come.  

As a remarkable example of an early Windermere working boat, Ferry Mary Anne is a highly significant vessel in the museum collection. It is believed to be the earliest surviving ferry boat in the UK. You can see Ferry Mary Anne on display next to the museum Conservation Workshop.