Interesting Tom. A search brought a little more detail thus....
The Jarrow-Willington Quay Ferry was in operation by 1806 and continued, through various changes of management, to 1967. Also using this route was the Jarrow-Willington Quay ‘horse and cart’ service, run from the 1850s until amalgamated with the other service in 1899. Towards the mouth of the river, a ferry was running between North and South shields by 1377, and in 1588 ferries were forbidden to land beggars. In the same year there is reference to a ‘horse boat’, although most of the early ferries were for passenger traffic
Anyone have any info as to the method of propulsion for the ferry. Rope/chain maybe?
