Crossing the English Channel in the late 1950s
How long would it likely take?
I have two characters who will be taking the ferry between Dover and Calais in early 1958, but I can't find any information on how long a crossing would have taken at that time. The Guardian helpfully informs me that the first hovercraft crossing occurred in 1959 and took 2 hours and 3 minutes, so I'm assuming a conventional ferry crossing took quite a bit longer--but how much longer?
Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.
Searches tried: channel crossing; channel crossing history; english channel history; channel ferries; dover-calais ferry;
I have two characters who will be taking the ferry between Dover and Calais in early 1958, but I can't find any information on how long a crossing would have taken at that time. The Guardian helpfully informs me that the first hovercraft crossing occurred in 1959 and took 2 hours and 3 minutes, so I'm assuming a conventional ferry crossing took quite a bit longer--but how much longer?
Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.
Searches tried: channel crossing; channel crossing history; english channel history; channel ferries; dover-calais ferry;