North & South Shields Steam Ferry

Belated thanks to David Jenkins for sending me the image of the fabulous plate below with a C.C. & Co impressed mark.

Apparently there's been a ferry service between North and South Shields since the fourteenth century.  In 1829, the Shields Ferry Act established the North & South Shields Ferry Company, to convey passengers, carriages, horses, cattle and goods. Regular services began in July 1830 between market Street/New Quay in South Shields to Ferry Street/Market Place in North Shields, both close to the current pier locations.  (Continue reading here.) Cornfoot, Colville & Co set up in partnership at the North Shields Pottery in 1829. It seems likely the plate dates from c1830.