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On Friday 27th September 1963 Embassy left Poole for Weymouth at 8am on a windy day and without passengers. Why did she do that? 27th September 1963: Embassy – Kingswear Castle

P & A Campbell’s Britannia had been due to end her 1956 season after a farewell cruise from Bristol to Ilfracombe on Wednesday 19th September but was still running on 26th September. Why was that?: 26th September 1956: Britannia – Kingswear Castle

After her finishing her 1965 season with Red Funnel at Southampton, Vecta sailed to the Bristol Channel to take up the roster with P & A Campbell starting on Friday 24th September with the Cardiff/Weston ferry. How did that pan out? 24th September 1965: Vecta – Kingswear Castle

1955 was the last year Cosens based two paddle steamers at Weymouth. The season went on until Friday 23rd September. If we had been around that day what exciting trip could we have taken aboard Consul to round the summer off? 23rd September 1955: Consul – Kingswear Castle

Forty one years ago on 21st September 1985 Kingswear Castle made her first visit to the harbour at Whitstable. To find out how this very long day trip panned out: 21st September 1985: Kingswear Castle – Kingswear Castle

At 4am on Saturday 20th September 1941, PS Portsdown left Portsmouth for the early morning mail run to Ryde with 21 service personnel and 8 civilians aboard as passengers. She never arrived. Why was that? 20th September 1941: Portsdown – Kingswear Castle

On Saturday 19th September 1959 you could have had the excitement of sailing on more than one paddle steamer on the River Dart: 19th September 1959: River Dart Paddle Steamers – Kingswear Castle

I don’t believe that there were any paddle steamers masters other than Capt H F Defrates of Weymouth who had a daughter in law who was an international film star and singer: 18th September 1964: Captain Defrates – Kingswear Castle

On Wednesday 17th September 1958 Bristol Queen had finished her summer season and was being de-stored. With P & A Campbell in deep financial difficulties it would 1961 before she would sail again: 17th September 1958: Bristol Queen – Kingswear Castle

On Wednesday 16th September 1964 there was a gale blowing in the Bristol Channel. Bristol Queen was stormbound in Swansea. Cardiff Queen tried to run but not very successfully as it turned out: 16th September 1964: Cardiff Queen – Kingswear Castle

On Saturday 15th September 1934 a crack developed in Brighton Belle’s HP cylinder just after leaving Newhaven, disabling the ship for the rest of the season. Why did that happen? :15th September 1934: Brighton Belle – Kingswear Castle

On Wednesday 14th September 1932 we could have joined Southsea or Whippingham to sail from Portsmouth, Southsea or Ryde round the Isle of Wight or for time ashore in Bournemouth: 14th September 1932: Southsea & Whippingham – Kingswear Castle

13th September 1959 was veteran Cosens master Capt Rawle’s last Sunday in command of a paddle steamer before retiring from Embassy later that week. Why did he retire before the end of the season and what became of him later: 13th September 1959: Captain P St Barbe Rawle – Kingswear Castle

On Saturday 12th September 1964 Waverley substituted for Duchess of Hamilton, which had a charter, on the long day excursion from Gourock to Campbeltown via Dunoon, Rothesay and Largs. To find out more: 12th September 1964: Waverley – Kingswear Castle

On Sunday 11th September 1932 we could have joined one of the giant Southern Railway paddle steamers Whippingham or Southsea for a trip from Portsmouth or Southsea to the IOW’s east coast piers at Sandown, Shanklin or Ventnor or vice versa: 11th September 1932: Southsea or Whippingham – Kingswear Castle

Monday 10th September 1962 was wet and windy. Would Consul run the 3pm trip to the Shambles Lightship from Weymouth or not? To find out what happened: 10th September 1962: Consul – Kingswear Castle

76 years ago, according to this flyer, Royal Eagle was supposed to be running from Tower Pier to Clacton on Saturday 9th September 1950. However she was in fact laid up in Whitewall Creek on the River Medway. Why was that?: 9th September 1950: Royal Eagle – Kingswear Castle

66 Years ago Monarch’s last two days in service from Bournemouth were Wednesday 7th and Thursday 8th September 1960. She sailed for layup in Weymouth on Friday 9th but was late getting away from Poole and so missed the tide to transit Weymouth’s Harbour bridge that day: 7th September 1960: Monarch – Kingswear Castle

63 years ago on a dull and blustery Sunday 8th September 1963 Medway Queen ran her last day in service on the route with which she had been most associated throughout her career from Strood to Southend and a double run from Southend to Herne Bay: 8th September 1963: Medway Queen – Kingswear Castle

89 years ago today, on Monday 6th September 1937, you could have sailed by paddle steamer between Chatham, Southend and Great Yarmouth or vice versa, changing boats at Clacton on the way. For more details: 6th September 1937: Essex Queen & Queen of Southend – Kingswear Castle

After the outbreak of war early in August 1914, the Government closed the Needles Channel, Spithead and Portland Harbour to shipping movements which restricted where Cosens could sail their paddle steamers. Avoiding these areas on Saturday 5th Sept 1914 they rostered Monarch and Majestic for a day trip and afternoon cruise from Bournemouth to Weymouth…
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