[6][7] At Erskine, the Clyde was shallow enough to ford on foot and had been used for this purpose in past centuries.

The Clyde Navigation Trust acquired the service in 1907 and added a vehicle ferry boat to the crossing.

[8] In February 1903, the Paisley and Renfrewshire Gazette newspaper reported on an order placed with Messrs John Reid and Co shipbuilders for a new ferry steamer for the crossing.

[13] A Paisley holiday in March 1912 saw 251 cycles, 75 motor cars and 2,073 foot passengers cross on the ferry.

[8] On 18 June 1963, an accident killing two ex-servicemen visiting the Erskine Hospital occurred at the ferry.

He had cycled down the slipway at Old Kilpatrick and missed the boat, resulting in him ending up in the water.

The ticket office for foot passengers was on the Old Kilpatrick side: passengers from Old Kilpatrick went through a turnstile to the right of the office (looking towards the ferry), those coming from the Erskine side passed through a turnstile to the left.

[18] Ferry Lodge, which is now a house, was designed by Sir Robert Smirke, the architect of the British Museum.