REFERENCES:
Manchester Ship Canal Act (1885)
Rixton and Warburton Bridge Act (1863)
(NOTE: it looks like permission for the toll bridge was set up by the 1863 Act, but that was a different bridge over the River Mersey, and the laws and permissions were transferred over to the Ship Canal when they needed a bigger bridge and it is a complete mess of legal wrangling. As it doesn’t affect the final story, I quietly elided that whole section because it was far too dull!)
Other references:
https://moneyweek.com/414922/11-november-1887-work-begins-on-the-manchester-ship-canal
https://hulmesferry.co.uk/
https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/tiny-manchester-ferry-youve-probably-16391489
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/legislation_governing_the_bridge
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/387618/response/935840/attach/2/160706%20Rixton%20and%20Warburton%20Bridge%20Act%201863.pdf?cookie_passthrough=1
https://www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/news/14619324.pictures-and-video-everything-you-need-to-know-about-one-of-the-worlds-smallest-ferries-thelwall-penny-ferry/
https://www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/news/19452780.warrington-council-opposes-warburton-toll-bridge-fee-rise/
https://www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/news/19455874.conservative-group-calls-warburton-toll-bridge-inquiry/
https://www.warburtontollbridge.co.uk/download-consultation/
Inflation calculator: https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/monetary-policy/inflation/inflation-calculator
And thanks in particular to Stuart at the Hulmes Ferry for friendly conversation when I arrived!
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