Swing boat explained
A swing boat, colloquially known as a "shuggy boat" in Northern England, is a fairground ride in which pairs of riders pull ropes to swing back and forth.[1] A similar ride called a pirate ship swings in a similar motion but without the rider pulling on ropes.
Swing boats were one of the earliest fairground rides, common in the Victorian era.[2] [3] The Beamish open-air museum features an example from the 1830s, named "Skylark". The boats were originally powered by hand, but steam-driven versions began to be introduced in the 1880s.[4]
Examples of Victorian-style manually-operated swing boats are still popular and are generally seen in traveling "period" fairs.[5]
See also
Notes and References
- Web site: All the Fun of the Fair . BBC Cymru . 22 April 2011.
- http://www.visit.carters-steamfair.co.uk/rides/swingboats/swingboats.html Carters Steam Fair: Swingboats
- https://books.google.com/books?id=B03RPuL7MhcC&dq=swing+boats+victorian+ride&pg=PA68 Ruth Goodman, Victorian Farm
- http://fairground-heritage.org.uk/learning/swings-and-roundabouts/ Dingles Fairground Heritage Centre - Swings and Roundabouts
- http://www1.bridgend.gov.uk/media-centre/2013/16-12-2013-success-for-bryngarws-victorian-christmas-weekend.aspx Bridgend County Borough Council, "Families enjoy Bryngarw's Victorian Christmas weekend", 16 Dec 2013
