The first part of Kingswear Castle’s rebuild has now been completed. In this we have renewed all the steelwork below the waterline throughout the ship as necessary, the hull strake just under the deck both sides from the engine room to the stern, the frames, stringers, keelsons and bulkheads throughout and all the decking aft of the wheelhouse. You can see some pictures showing the extent and quality of the work here.
This has cost us just under £500K so far with the funding coming from surpluses from the trading income from the Medway years, a grant of over £300K from the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society for which we are very grateful, fund raising and in-house donations in kind of the Dart Company’s labour costs plus free use of their facilities at the Dartmouth shipyard. This has been of immense benefit to Kingswear Castle. If this sort of rebuild had taken place in a commercial yard at commercial rates the cost so far would more likely have been £2 to £3 million.
For the next phase of the rebuild we plan to renew the hull strake just below the deck both sides from the engine room to the bow and renew all the decking forward of the wheelhouse. This is expected to cost around £200K and it is for this that we need your help.
Your support will make a massive difference. It will enable us to keep Kingswear Castle in service as the last British paddle steamer of her type, providing pleasure and delight to present and future generations.
To donate using a debit or credit card, please click on the yellow button below. We pay commission on donations, but you can avoid this cost by using bank transfer.
To pay by bank transfer please use these details: Co-operative Bank Sort Code 08-90-34 Account 50629826 in the name of PADDLE STEAMER PRESERVATION SOCIETY. In order for us to claim Gift Aid, please email your name, membership number or postal address and the date and amount of payment to treasurer@paddlesteamers.org
