Supporting the preservation and operation of paddle steamers Waverley and Kingswear Castle
What sort of paddle steamer rides were available from Bournemouth seventy years ago in June 1953. To find out take a look at the June Pictures of the Month on the Kingswear Castle website: June 2023: June 1953 Bournemouth – Kingswear Castle
To take a look at more rebuild pics of KC click here: 23rd May 2023: More KC Rebuild Pics – Kingswear Castle
The Dartmouth Steam Railway and River Boat Company, which has just signed an extended agreement to take KC on charter for a further 25 years, celebrated its 50th Anniversary on Friday 19th May with a special excursion for invited guests on the train from Paignton to Kingswear followed by a trip on the river. For…
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The shipyard which maintains, refurbishes and rebuilds the Dresden paddle steamers held an open day on Saturday 15th April. To find out how the day went click here: May 2023: Dresden Shipyard Visit – Kingswear Castle
KC was in steam for trials last week. To find out more and see how you can help us complete her rebuild take a look at our latest Rebuild Update: http://www.kingswearcastle.org/news/9th-april-2023-kc-rebuild-appeal-update/
The 2023 Audio Award of the Independent Publishers Guild Awards has been won by the Scottish-based publishing group Belle Media for their 2022 radio series Stormy Weather which was recorded aboard Kingswear Castle, Waverley, Medway Queen, Balmoral and TS Queen Mary and included interviews with key figures from the ships. To find out more check out…
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The shipyard at Dresden will be open to the public for tours on Saturday 15th April. The trips will start from Dresden at either 9.30am or 2pm aboard one of the paddle steamer fleet which will take people on the 10km trip southwards to Laubergast. There will then be a guided tour of the shipyard…
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Ever wondered what leavers to push or which wheels to turn to make a paddle steamer engine go? To find out take a look at the April Pictures of the Month on the Kingswear Castle website: London Belle – Kingswear Castle
Fancy a trip aboard Princess Elizabeth around the Isle of Wight just after the war?
Ever wondered how long a paddle steamer galley flue lasts before disintegrating? To find out take a look at the February Pictures of the Month on the KC website: Galley Flues – Kingswear Castle
We are delighted to announce that this week the Paddle Steamer Kingswear Castle Trust has signed an extended contract with the Dartmouth Steam Railway and River Boat Company ensuring that Kingswear Castle will be operating from her base at Dartmouth on the River Dart for a further 25 years. A spokesperson for the Paddle Steamer…
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Kingswear Castle ran on the Medway and Thames from 1985 to 2012 from her then base at the Historic Dockyard Chatham. To see how we did it and attracted passengers up the gangway click here: 12th January 1989: SEETB Excursions Fair – Kingswear Castle
Guy Hundy, who has died aged 79, was a long standing PSPS member, a trustee of the Paddle Steamer Kingswear Castle Trust and a regular contributor to Paddle Wheels. For an obituary on the KC website click here: Guy Hundy 1943 – 2022 – Kingswear Castle
Fancy two trips down the Thames in the summer of 1949 aboard Royal Daffodil and the then brand new Queen of the Channel? Check out the January Pictures of the Month on the Kingswear Castle website: January 2023: Two Thames Trips 1949 – Kingswear Castle
Check out progress on KC’s major rebuild by clicking here: 24th December 2022: KC Rebuild Update – Kingswear Castle
On Sunday 17th December 1989 KC ran a Santa Special on the River Medway. To find out more click here: 17th December 1989: Kingswear Castle – Kingswear Castle
The Lake Geneva paddle steamer Rhone is set to continue with her Sunday lunch cruises from Lausanne into the New Year and beyond. And the Italie is scheduled to replace Vevey on the lunch cruises from Geneva from 18th December. To have a look aboard and see more click here: 11th December 2022: PS Rhone…
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Take a trip back in time with us to 16th December 1989 when KC ran a Christmas buffet lunch cruise on the River Medway from Strood. To see how the day panned out click here: 16th December 1989: Kingswear Castle – Kingswear Castle
The Lake Geneva diesel electric paddler Helvetie was towed from Lausanne to Geneva by the Leman on 7th November 2022 to free up a berth in the Ouchy shipyard for the newly built Navibus which is nearing completion in the yard. After relatively little use in the previous decade, and in need of a major…
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KC and Waverley as well as other vessels featured in recent episodes of the Stormy Weather series on Times Radio. To tune in and hear the programme again click here: https://shows.acast.com/belle-books-and-stories/episodes/stormy-weather-kingswear-castle
Lewis and Celia Wood took a “day” trip from London to Oban and round Mull on King Geoge V, with time ashore at Staffa and Iona along the way, out overnight on Friday 10th July 1936, back overnight the following day. To follow their adventure and see how they got on check out the December…
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Derek Gawn has sent in some more fascinating and unique pics of KC in her Isle of Wight years when she was in company with Medway Queen and Ryde. Take a look: 11th November 2022: KC 1969/70 Update – Kingswear Castle
Pining for a paddle steamer trip? Suffering from withdrawal symptoms as the long winter nights draw in because you can’t get aboard a paddle steamer? Can’t wait ’till next summer? Then help is at hand. Take yourself off to Dr Switzerland where no less than two paddlers are scheduled to be in service on Lake…
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Tune in on Friday 4th November from 8.30pm for a feature about KC on the Michael Portillo Show on Times Radio
Derek Gawn has sent in some fascinating pictures he took as a schoolboy in 1969 of KC making one of her very few trips under her own steam during her time on the Isle of Wight. For more pictures and other details check out the Kingswear Castle website: 11th November 2022: KC 1969/70 Update –…
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For an update on KC’s rebuild and to see all the excellent work being done in Dartmouth to give our ship an extended life check out the latest news on the KC website October 2022: KC Rebuild Update – Kingswear Castle
The late Stafford Ellerman left meticulous records of his extensive travels both in this country and abroad. In this he followed the example his Uncle Lewis Wood. He was a civil servant by day at the Royal Arsenal at Woolwich but in his time away from work, and maybe at work too sometimes, he dreamed…
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Chris Smith, who has died of a heart attack aged 60, played a central role in the return to service of KC in the 1980s and her subsequent operation and continued restoration on the Medway during the ensuing years for more than a quarter of a century. For more details check out the KC website:…
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When did the seasons end for the paddle steamers still in service in 1960? To find out take a look at the October Pictures of the Month on the KC website: October 2022: End of the 1960 Season – Kingswear Castle
Click on the link to see a tribute to the Queen from Kingswear Castle: The Queen – Kingswear Castle
