Editing Mersey Ferry (section)

===''Mountwood'', ''Woodchurch'' and ''Overchurch''===
The current Mersey Ferries fleet comprises two vessels, based on a similar design by naval architects Graham and Woolnough of Liverpool. Until 2012 a third ferry, ''Royal Daffodil'', was also in service. Originally named ''[[MV Royal Iris of the Mersey|Mountwood]]'', ''[[MV Snowdrop|Woodchurch]]'' and ''[[MV Royal Daffodil (1962)|Overchurch]]'' after overspill post-war housing developments of Birkenhead, they were commissioned into service by Birkenhead Corporation.

''Mountwood'' and ''Woodchurch'' were built at Dartmouth by Philip and Son. The ''Mountwood'' was launched on the 31 July 1959 and the ''Woodchurch'' on the 28 October of the same year. They were loosely based on designs of the ''Leasowe'' and ''Egremont'' of the Wallasey fleet, although they both weighed considerably more at 464 tonnes, compared with 311 tonnes for the earlier vessels. They are also larger than the older Wallasey pair, being approximately {{convert|19|ft}} longer, {{cvt|6|ft}} broader and over {{cvt|1|ft}} taller. Both vessels were externally identical in almost every way up until 1991 when the shroud protecting the aft funnel vent on the ''Mountwood'' was changed from square to rounded.

Compared to the earlier Wallasey twins, the ''Mountwood'' and ''Woodchurch'' were highly advanced. They benefited from an injection of cash from both Birkenhead Corporation and the Joint Tunnel Committee. They were given special Crossley eight-cylinder engines which were fitted with gears and automatic air brakes. New style telegraphs by Chadburns were designed which had a facility for braking the engines for rapid reversal, the telegraphs were part of a brand known as "Synchrostep" and were all originally unpainted brushed aluminium with shiny brass rimming. ''Overchurch'' had the same telegraph 'heads' however they were fitted into the wings and main control position in specially built units which also had instruments fitted to them. They entered service in 1960 and were a hit with ferry passengers. They were light, modern and boasted the latest in marine navigation equipment. They were given an orange and black funnel livery, with a red band just above the rubbing strake. In their early years of service both the ferries carried rope fenders to protect the strakes.

On the bridge was also a brass talk tube that linked down to the engine room. A prank amongst bridge crews was to call an engineer on the talk tube then pour water down it, thus soaking the engineer at the other end.

The ''Mountwood'' was used in the film "''[[Ferry Cross the Mersey (film)|Ferry Cross The Mersey]]"'', a musical and subsequent [[Gerry & The Pacemakers]] song, crossing to Liverpool from Birkenhead. Her near sister ''Overchurch'' also appeared in the background of several shots. In her early years ''Mountwood'' was an unreliable ship. She had broken down whilst crossing the river and had to anchor. Her passengers were rescued by ''Woodchurch''. She also collided with ''Bidston'' whilst berthing, due to an error in engine movements.

In 1962, ''Mountwood'' and ''Woodchurch'' were joined by a new ferry, the ''Overchurch''. Built at the Birkenhead shipyard of [[Cammell Laird]] and Co., ''Overchurch'' was of all welded construction and also had a bridge that was completely enclosed rather than a wheelhouse and navigation boxes like ''Mountwood'' and ''Woodchurch''. The addition of a totally enclosed bridge meant that there only needed to be one binnacle upon it, whereas on the two sisters there were three, one inside the main wheelhouse and two in the docking/navigation boxes. The ''Overchurch'' also had much of its instrumentation fitted into specially built units, meaning the ferry had a spacious bridge, rather than the more compact and cluttered bridges of the ''Mountwood'' and ''Woodchurch''. ''Overchurch'' had a high funnel immediately behind the bridge and also a small bridge deck, giving the appearance of a somewhat forward top-heavy look, as a result. The ''Overchurch'' was fitted with the same navigation equipment as her near sisters. She differed slightly by being a few tonnes heavier and a few inches longer. The ''Overchurch'' also had only one access stairway to the promenade deck unlike the Dartmouth twins which had two. In her first year of service, the ''Overchurch'' conveyed [[Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy|Princess Alexandra]] to open the [https://web.archive.org/web/20210609183017/https://player.bfi.org.uk/free/film/watch-opening-of-the-new-dry-dock-at-cammell-lairds-birkenhead-1961-online  new Cammell Laird dry dock].<ref name="The Mersey At Work: Ferries">{{cite book|title=The Mersey At Work: Ferries|first=JC|last=Emmerson|publisher=Countryvise Ltd|year=1982|isbn=0-907768-35-0}}</ref>

The trio of ferries all remained in near constant operation up until 1981, when cost-cutting measures saw ''Woodchurch'' withdrawn for almost three years.<ref name="Mersey Ferries - Volume 1" /> It was rumoured that she was cannibalised to help keep her sisters running. Whilst in lay up at [[Clarence Dock (Liverpool)|Clarence dry docks]], she was offered for sale, with one prospective buyer hoping to use her to operate cruises around the [[Isle of Man]]. She was not sold and after main engine repairs and a full repaint ''Woodchurch'' returned to service in 1983, freeing up ''Overchurch'' to become the primary ferry to be used on a new Otterspool service, set up for the 1984 International Garden Festival. The ferries all operated on a normal 20 minute route throughout this.

The late 1970s and early 1980s saw very limited budgets for maintenance and the ferries are noted to look in poor condition during this period. 

In 1989, ''Mountwood'' and ''Woodchurch'' were withdrawn and extensively refurbished internally which resulted in complete rewiring and main engine repairs. They were given new modern interiors and their separate bridge wings and wheel houses were plated over to form one large bridge, although none of the original equipment was removed from the new bridge. They entered service by July 1990 in time for the [[Queen Elizabeth 2|''QE2's'']] first visit to the Mersey and also operated the new "heritage cruises". They also were given a new black and red livery replacing the red white and blue given for the Garden Festival season of 1984. The ''Overchurch'' also underwent some refurbishments at [[Bootle]]. She was then moved to the ferries' regular berth on the [[Great Float|East Float]], where she was used as a stand by vessel and during the busy summer season. In 1996 the ''Overchurch'' was given a small refit which involved the enclosing of the promenade deck shelter.