Ferry Cross the Mersey

The Mersey Ferries have seen service at Liverpool since the 13th century and have survived many an adversity particularly during World War II. The oldest ferry service in Europe, the vessels operated between Woodside, the Birkenhead Landing stage and Seacombe, the Wallasey Landing stage. The famous Grosvenor Ballroom was located in Wallasey along with the old Victoria seaside resort known as New Brighton. The Tower Ballroom, where most of the big shows with American headliners took place, was situated in New Brighton. The ferry boats ran up to New Brighton on a limited basis.

It was the Mersey Ferries that brought a large number of excited Beatles' fans, mostly young women, over their noon hour break to see the Fab Four play their early sets at the Cavern. Perhaps the highest profile of the ferries has come from the song "Ferry Cross the Mersey" performed by Gerry and the Pacemakers, a group that rivaled the Beatles during the early 1960's in Liverpool and Hamburg.