Serving Dorset’s coastline since 1926
The Sandbanks Ferry is a family-owned and run business, now in its third generation.
Officially known as The Bournemouth-Swanage Motor Road & Ferry Company (Incorporated by Act of Parliament 31 July 1923), the business is part of The Fairacres Group, a parent company owned by the Kean family.
The Sandbanks Ferry employs a friendly team of permanent and seasonal staff members, all of which live locally.
Many of the ferry’s employees have followed in their family’s footsteps by working for the business. The longest continuous family connection is the Gosney family, with three generations working for The Sandbanks Ferry since the 1920s.
1945
Rodney Kean started making boiled sweets under the banner of ‘The Silvermist Confectionery Co.’ with the financial assistance of his grandmother
1959
Rodney Kean launched Silvermist Properties, with assets including land now known as the Widford Industrial Estate and his confectionery factory
1981
Silvermist Properties launches the Silver Star Shipping Line, which operated vessels between the UK and South Atlantic until the time of the Falklands conflict
1983
Silvermist Properties acquires The Bournemouth-Swanage Motor Road & Ferry Company
1988
Mike Kean joins Silvermist Properties, working alongside his father
1994
Bramble Bush Bay, the present ferry, comes into service. Both ferry slipways are completely rebuilt to accommodate the vessel
1995
Silvermist Properties transfers ownership to The Fairacres Group, a newly formed company, still owned by the Kean family
1980s-2010s
The ferry service undergoes multiple improvements, including the construction of new toll booths at Shell Bay, the introduction of a computerised toll system, and the development of a new office and accommodation building, stores, and garaging
2020
Mike’s daughter, Rosie Kean joins the Fairacres Group
Rodney Kean of The Sandbanks Ferry Company
Rodney Kean, 1st generation of the Kean family to operate The Sandbanks Ferry, now in its 3rd generation of ownership
John Lennon at The Sandbanks Ferry
John Lennon and his Aunt Mimi, disembarking from The Sandbanks Ferry. Mimi, who had raised John from the age of five, lived at 126 Panorama Road in Sandbanks from 1965 until her passing in 1991 at the age of 85.
Each year, The Sandbanks Ferry carries approximately
cars and vans
pedestrians
motorcycles and bicycles
buses and coaches
trucks
The ferry service began with a rope-pulled pedestrian ferry service between Sandbanks and Shell Bay in Victorian times
The motor ferry service officially launched on 15 July 1926, carrying 100,000 pedestrians and 12,000 cars before the end of the summer
The Bramble Bush Bay was built by Richard Dunston Ltd at Hessle on the river Humber, near Hull
The Bournemouth-Swanage Motor Road & Ferry Company was formed in 1923 by the Aman family
Four generations of ferries have served the route to date
Bramble Bush Bay has an overall length of 74.4 metres, a beam of 16.5 metres and draught of just over 1 metre
Their first ferry vessel was steam driven with a 15-car capacity
The current vessel, Bramble Bush Bay was named after a small bay, located close to the Shell Bay side of the crossing
The car-carrying capacity of the ferry has increased by 220% over the past 90 years, accommodating 48 cars today
The Sandbanks Ferry, through the generations
in images
Retirement send off for Bob West (far left), who worked on The Sandbanks Ferry for 40 years, his son Mark who also worked in the company, and Mr Rodney & Mrs Cynthia Kean.
Ken Williams, a Sandbanks Ferry employee for over 40 years and whose son, Gary, also worked for the company, pictured with his wife and Rodney Kean. Ken’s ashes were scattered near the old Studland toll box.
Richard Branson’s Blue Riband boat Virgin Atlantic Challenger II, taken from the ferry whilst at Sandbanks.
Bramble Bush Bay launch party, 1993
Rodney Kean during the Ferry office and accommodation rebuild, 1986.
Bramble Bush Bay ready to launch, 1993
Sandbanks Ferry South Haven slipway rebuild, 1991.
The third Sandbanks Ferry, newly built in 1958.