Supporting the preservation and operation of paddle steamers Waverley and Kingswear Castle
Standing on the pier at Hastings on Wednesday 13th August 1952 you might have been surprised to see a paddle steamer called Cardiff Queen arrive to take you on your day trip to Shanklin IOW. But there she was, based on the Sussex Coast in 1952 & 1953: 13th August 1952: Cardiff Queen – Kingswear…
Read more
On 12th August 1935 Golden Eagle was on her summer roster from London to Ramsgate with balloon-blowing competitions, skipping, musical chairs, tug of war & streamer throwing offered. 20 years earlier she carried 6,329 Chinamen. Why did she do that? 12th August 1935: Golden Eagle – Kingswear Castle
At a loose end in Llandudno on 11th August 1930? Why not take a trip on the veteran PS Snowden at 10.30am along the N Wales coast to Menai Bridge and Caernarvon? To find out more: 11th August 1930: Snowdon – Kingswear Castle
On 10th August 1962 Waverley was scheduled to run an “Up-River Cruise” from Largs to Glasgow but didn’t. To find out why not: 10th August 1962: Waverley & Caledonia – Kingswear Castle
In the blistering heat of the summer of 1976 on 9th August Balmoral ran from Penarth to Weston and Ilfracombe and ended the day in Swansea. What was she doing for the rest of the week?: 8th-16th August 1976: A Week in the Life of Balmoral – Kingswear Castle
On Monday August 8th 1955 Cardiff Queen left Swansea early in perfect weather for Ilfracombe for a 10.30am departure for Milford Haven to see the Royal Yacht with the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh aboard. Was this super long and most unusual day trip a spectacular success or a commercial flop?: 8th August 1955: Cardiff…
Read more
On Sunday 7th August 1960 Monarch returned to service after a rare day off. To find out more: 5th-11th August 1960: A Week in the Life of Monarch – Kingswear Castle
After the Napoleonic Wars, the Congress of Vienna (1815) created an order in Europe where diplomacy stood higher than war. That changed in the late 19C. By 6th August 1914 Majestic was forced to alter her trips as the world slid towards the abyss: 6th August 1914: Majestic – Kingswear Castle
Where was PS Consul – sporting a primrose funnel and bottle green hull – 63 years ago on 5th August 1963? What was she trying to do and was she having any luck in the doing of it? : 5th August 1963: Consul – Kingswear Castle
On Saturday 4th August 1962 Medway Queen was rostered for two round trips between Strood and Southend. To find out more and why a crew member was sacked: 4th August 1962: Medway Queen – Kingswear Castle
On the return from her day trip from Southampton and Bournemouth to Cherbourg on Tuesday 3rd August 1937 Balmoral didn’t make it back to Southampton in the evening. To find out more: 3rd August 1937: Balmoral – Kingswear Castle
On 2 August 1924 we could have enjoyed a day trip down the N Welsh Coast from Liverpool to Llandudno, Beaumaris, Bangor and Menai Bridge. To find out more: 2nd August 1924: La Marguerite – Kingswear Castle
Living in London Saturday 1 August 1936? Fancy a trip on one of the new electric trains to Brighton, then on to Shanklin IOW by paddle steamer and home again for supper? Here’s how it was done: 1st August 1936: London to Shanklin via Brighton – Kingswear Castle
In 1939 the newly arrived Vecta displaced Princess Elizabeth on the Southampton/Cowes ferry which was sent to Bournemouth for the summer displacing PS Corfe Castle. Then Bournemouth Queen had boiler trouble so by Monday 31st July it was all change again: 31st July 1939: Bournemouth – Kingswear Castle
On Monday 30 July 1962 my 10 year old self took my Auntie Mary on a morning cruise from Weymouth to Lulworth Cove on Consul. This is what happened: 30th July 1962: Consul – Kingswear Castle
In the peak days of the 1962 season Consul ran seven days a week, the only respite for her crew being on days trips were cancelled due to the weather. On Sunday 29 July she offered two afternoon cruises and an evening Jazz Cruise. To find out more: 29th July 1962: Consul – Kingswear Castle
On Thursday 28 July 1960 you could have enjoyed a day trip from Torquay to Plymouth aboard PS Princess Elizabeth and got back almost an hour late. For more about this very long day: 28th July 1960: Princess Elizabeth – Kingswear Castle
If we had been in Bournemouth on Thursday 27th July 1899 we could have bought a ticket to join PS Brodick Castle for a day trip to Totland Bay, Cowes or Portsmouth. For more details: 27th July 1899: Brodick Castle – Kingswear Castle
As paddle steamers pitch and roll in a seaway water is forced up into the paddle boxes one after the other choking and impeding the rotation of the paddle wheels. How did P & A Campbell try to solve this paddle steamer problem: August 2026: Paddle Box Freeing Ports – Kingswear Castle
Fancy a trip around the IOW on Thursday 26th July 1934 from Southampton aboard PS Lorna Doone with calls along the way at Ryde, Southsea, Sandown, Shanklin and Ventnor? This is how the day panned out with pics: 26th July 1934: Lorna Doone – Kingswear Castle
King George V conducted an inspection of over 200 warships, airships and seaplanes in the Solent during the weekend 25- 27 July 1924. This brought a bonanza for local paddle steamer operators: 25th-27th July 1924: The King’s Spithead Inspection – Kingswar Castle
68 years ago on Thursday 24th July 1958 we could have boarded P & A Campbell’s Cardiff Queen in Swansea for a day trip to Ilfracombe, Clovelly or on to land on Lundy Island. To find out more: 24th July 1958: Cardiff Queen – Kingswear Castle
Had you found yourself at a loose end in Grimsby on the afternoon of Tuesday 23rd July 1935 you could have bought a ticket for the 2 hour afternoon cruise towards Spurn Head aboard the paddle steamer Killingholme: 23rd July 1935: Killingholme – Kingswear Castle
Some paddle steamers ran exciting long day trips to far flung and distant destinations many miles away. Some didn’t. One of the the latter was Ryde. So how did she fill her days pottering about during the peak weeks of her summer season in 1968: 21st July 1968: Ryde – Kingswear Castle
On a wet and windy Monday 21st July 1947 Red Funnel’s paddle steamer Bournemouth Queen returned to service at Bournemouth following a major rebuild after the war. To find out more: 21st July 1947: Bournemouth Queen – Kingswear Castle
The Humber Bridge opened on 24th June 1981 making the Hull – New Holland ferry service redundant. Amazingly, nearly fifty years later much of the Minerva Pier, the Hull paddle steamer terminal, remains albeit in rather derelict condition: Minerva Pier Hull – Kingswear Castle
At a loose end during the week 22 – 29 July 1934 and fancy a trip on a huge Cross Channel paddle steamer? Check out what was on offer by Balmoral this week back then: 22nd-29th July 1934: A Week in the Life of Balmoral – Kingswear Castle
In 1898 P & A Campbell sent their Cambria to compete with the paddle steamers running from Southampton and Bournemouth. The Southampton Company (later Red Funnel) responded by building the even larger Balmoral to fight back. She ran her first cruise for invited guests on 17th July 1900: 17th July 1900: Balmoral – Kingswear Castle
Jump in the time-machine and travel back nearly 80 years to 16th July 1947 to Bournemouth. What paddle steamer opportunities were on offer that day?: 16th July 1947: Embassy, Monarch and Princess Elizabeth – Kingswear Castle
On 15th July 1960, Cosens paddle steamer Consul ran the first of four day trips that season from Weymouth to Totland Bay IOW. To find out how she did it that day and how the tide massively affected this trip check out: 15th July 1960: Consul – Kingswear Castle
