A CENTURY-OLD steam ship, as featured on Channel 4’s Great Canal Journeys, has announced its programme of cruises.

The SS Daniel Adamson – known affectionately as ‘the Danny’ – will be mostly based on the River Weaver for its 2019 events.

The 116-year-old ship will be sailing between Sutton Weaver near Frodsham and Anderton Lift Lock in Northwich for a variety of two and a half hour and four and half hour cruises.

There will even be a number of speciality gin themed events, which were a sell out success in 2018, as well as real ale cruises.

The Danny was built in 1903 – nine years before the Titanic – to tow up to 10 barges on the Mersey.

Northwich Guardian:

The 250-ton vessel spent some 80 years as an operational tug before being used for corporate hospitality.

To bring trade to north west ports in 1936, the ship was fitted with opulent art deco lounges to accommodate up to 100 passengers.

The Danny was used to influence and entertain royalty, including the Prince of Denmark, heads of state, foreign ambassadors and great leaders from the military including General Eisenhower, who also served as President of the United States.

Coal fired and steam driven, the ship survived two world wars and was in service until 1984.

Saved from the scrap yard with only hours to spare in 2004 the Danny was restored to her original 1936 condition in a £5 million project, partly funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Now owned by the Daniel Adamson Preservation Society and manned by volunteers she is registered on the National Historic Ships Register in the same elite group as the Cutty Sark and SS Great Britain.

The importance of the vessel and the historic River Weaver were recognised when Timothy West and Prunella Scales asked if they could film a journey in the Danny, while taking in the scenery and architecture of the Weaver valley for TV’s Great Canal Journeys.

Northwich Guardian:

The famous couple were filmed as they visited every part of the ship talking to customers and the team with Tim even steering the boat for a short distance.

The Danny has also inspired a whole network of volunteers across the north west including ornithologists.

Those who monitor birdlife on the New Cut Canal and Paddington Meadows now regularly pass on their expertise to schoolchildren on educational cruises along the river.

Sheila Leonard, membership secretary, said: “The support we have had on the Weaver is very encouraging.

“The Canal and River Trust has dredged the river so we can cruise to Anderton Lift Lock , we have had more interest and volunteers from the area while bookings for cruises on the vessel have risen dramatically.”

The cruising programme will begin in May with one-way cruises including a coach journey back.

The Danny is also open at weekends with guided tours. It is free but donations to the charity are welcome.

Special arrangements can be made for groups with expert talks and refreshment packages.

Visit thedanny.co.uk