The Keswick Launch Company was formed in 1935 when many of the individual operators on Derwentwater joined to form one company.
Boats of many kinds have always been seen on Derwentwater, but it was from the days when Peter Crosthwaite and Joseph Pocklington organised their celebrated annual Regatta in 1781 that the water became a hive of activity with sailing boats, steam boats and motor boats regularly plying the length and breadth of the lake.
In 1898 Mr Caesari, the Manager of The Lodore Hotel, bought a 53 seater to ferry his guests and other passengers across Derwentwater from the foreshore at Keswick. ‘Lorna Doone’ was a screw steamer which was pulled by dray horses all the way from Ullswater, through Keswick and down to the Lodore Hotel in Borrowdale.
Until 1935 boat hire on Derwentwater had very much a cottage industry feel about it with individual operators vying for trade with small rowing boats, Then in 1935, The Keswick upon Derwentwater Launch Company was formed.
The company started operations with one boat ‘The May Queen’ who, with its 70 seats, became successful very quickly and the company expanded with the purchase of the ‘Annie Mellor’. ‘Waterlily’, ‘Princess Margaret Rose’,’ Lady Derwentwater’ and ‘Iris’ brought the fleet up to six which allowed the company to run regular cruises in both directions around the lake.
