Crossfields of Arnside Boatbuilders

Leading builders of Morecambe Bay Prawners and Yachts

Crossfields built yachts and fishing boats in Arnside from 1840s to 1940s. They were the leading builders of Morecambe Bay Prawners or Lancashire Nobbies, which were fast sailing boats used to catch prawns, shrimps and flounder in the Irish Sea. Morecambe Bay Prawners were used in the Irish Sea between Southern Scotland and Wales. There were large fleets at Morecambe, Fleetwood, Southport and on the Mersey. They built some of the North West's best yachts supplying members of Blackpool and Fleetwood Yacht Club and the Royal Mersey. 

There were two Crossfield boatyards: Crossfield Brothers on Church Hill and William Crossfield and Sons on the shore at Beach Walk. After 1950, the shore boatyard continued as Crossfields Successors, eventually closing in 1985. 

Arthur Ransome Connection

Crossfields built Arthur Ransome’s Swallow and Coch-y-bonddhu, now in the collection of Windermere Jetties. Swallow was kept at Arnside in 1930s by a local teenager. Coch-y-bonddhu was used to teach sailing at Earnseat School on the front at Arnside in the 1950s.

Other Crossfield Businesses

Another branch of the family built many of Arnside's houses. James Crossfield operated a grocery business now Crossfields Bar.  There were also Crossfield Boatyards in Conwy and briefly Hoylake