Although inscribed POLL TAX, these issues were in fact a landing fee which was applicable to certain categories of ferry passenger.
History: The first railway company to operate a service to the Channel Islands was the London & South Western Railway which had been responsible for the Channel Islands mail service since 1845. Initially, sailings were from Southampton, but later from Weymouth.
After 1889 the Great Western Railway was also operating a service from Weymouth to the Channel Islands, and this put the two rival companies in direct competition for the business. A decade later in 1899, they sensibly agreed to amalgamate their services and share the profits. This business arrangement continued after 1923 (as S.R. / G.W.R.) when most of the private railway companies were amalgamated to form four major railway groups. The London & South Western became part of the Southern Railway and the Great Western was able to retain its original title, becoming the major constituent of one of the four groups.
Southern Railway poll tax tickets have not been seen, but it is possible that they did not operate the type of sailing which required a landing fee. One source does suggest that after the 1923 grouping, the Weymouth to Channel Islands ferry was exclusively operated by the G.W.R until 1948. The railways were nationalized in 1947, trading as The Railway Executive / British Railways until 1953 when the British Transport Commission was formed. This period lasted until 1962 when it was dissolved, and the British Railways Board took over.
The Tickets: Great Western Railway
The first example as shown in Figure 1 is printed on a thin card and was issued in rolls with perforations between, while all subsequent issues (Figure 2) were issued as individual Edmondson style tickets. Both of these issues refer to the Poll Tax as a ‘Fare’ and state “This ticket must be given up at destination with the ticket in respect of which EXCESS is paid”.
The later issues (Figures 3, 4, and 5) refer to the Tax as a ‘Charge’ and payment was expected at Weymouth Quay as well as in Jersey.
The Railway Executive / British Railways (Southern Region).
Now on blue card and inscribed ‘Payable by Free Ticket holders’ (Figures 6a and 6b).
The British Transport Commission.
Tax increased to 1/5d single and 2/9d return (child 1/5d) (Figures 7a, b and c on next page).
The British Railways Commission (Southern Region). The ticket shown at Figure 8 is the latest example seen. I have been unable to find any official information regarding this aspect of the ferry service or for how long the charge continued to be applied.
This ‘Revenues’ subject is not recorded in John Simpson’s books on ‘Channel Islands Revenues’ and, to my knowledge, has not appeared as an article in our Journal.
My sincere thanks go to Chris Tennant RNCP for researching and producing this article and for permitting it to be published in our Journal. This is a subject I knew absolutely nothing about and feel it will add value to those members who have a collecting interest in the Revenues of the Channel Islands.
