Category: Megoran’s Musings

Rather surprisingly, given that it happened at the opposite end of the country, the Dorset Echo of 10 January 1934 reported that the Clyde paddle steamer Lucy Ashton had run into a shoal of herring off Kilcreggan, with hundreds of fish spun into the air by her paddle wheels. It was such a bizarre little…
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Half a century ago, Capt Arthur Escudier (right) carried hundreds of thousands of passengers between Weymouth, the Channel Islands and France. His quiet competence — and the man himself — are remembered in the June Pictures of the Month on the KC website: June 2026: Capt Arthur Escudier – Kingswear Castle

Ever wondered if paddle steamer captains received pensions? To find out more check out the March Pictures of the Month on the KC website: March 2026: Paddle Steamer Captain Pensions – Kingswear Castle

Three captains all living in the same road in Weymouth overlooking Portland Harbour with two of them in the same house? To find out more check out the Pictures of the Month on the Kingswear Castle website: February 2026: Three Sandsfoot Captains – Kingswear Castle

Is Bognor Regis maybe one of the more forgotten UK paddle steamer piers? To find out more check out the November Pictures of the Month on the KC website: November 2025: Paddle Steamers at Bognor – Kingswear Castle

Don’t forget that a post pops up on the Paddle Steamer Kingswear Castle website every day of the year about what some paddle steamer or other was doing somewhere, sometime in the past on this day. At present there are 410 of them to be enjoyed: Megoran’s Musings – Kingswear Castle

Last month we looked at what KC was up to 40 years ago in July 1985. This month we continue the story with her sailings in September and October 1985: September 2025: KC’s Log September/October 1985 – Kingswear Castle

In 1930 the Southern Railway built two giant paddle steamers for their services from Portsmouth. To find out more, including about their calls at Bournemouth, check out the Pictures of the Month on the KC website: August 2025: Whippingham at Bournemouth – Kingswear Castle

In her first season back in service in July 1985 KC ran on 26 operating days from her base at The Historic Dockyard Chatham. Take a look at her log for that month all those years ago and find out what she was up to: July 2025: KC’s Log July 1985 – Kingswear Castle

To take a look at some rare pics of PS Consul laid up at Weymouth check out the Pictures of the Month on the KC website: July 2025: Consul Laid Up at Weymouth – Kingswear Castle

In 1936 Red Funnel had a fleet of twelve paddle steamers and one motor vessel. What were they all up to and how did they fill their days? To find out more check out the May Pictures of the Month on the Kingswear Castle website: May 2025: Red Funnel 1936/39 – Kingswear Castle

Since it was built in 1876 Yarmouth Pier IOW has hosted very many paddle steamers. To find out more check out the April Pictures of the Month on the Kingswear Castle website: April 2025: Yarmouth Pier IOW – Kingswear Castle

In 1922 Cosens’ Emperor of India was chartered for one season only by the Cinque Ports Steam Navigation Company to run on the Sussex Coast. To find out more check out the February Pictures of the Month on the Kingswear Castle website: Emperor of India 1922 – Kingswear Castle

Interested in paddle steamer history? Ever wondered what was happening to some paddle steamer somewhere, sometime on this day in the past? Then check out the Kingswear Castle website and explore. As well as details of KC you will find a huge archive of 700 posts about paddle steamers. John Megoran started a Pictures of…
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It is sixty one years since St Trillo arrived on the Bristol Channel polarising opinion in the paddle steamer loving community. To find out more check out the Pictures of the Month on the KC website: December 2024: St Trillo – Kingswear Castle

Although paddle steamer operator Cosens & Co of Weymouth had a pretty near monopoly on excursions to sea from Weymouth, if you exclude the motor boat trips from the beach and the harbour, they did not have the field entirely to themselves even amongst larger craft. To find out more check out the Pictures of…
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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

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

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

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

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

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

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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