A registered charity founded in 1959, we have about 2,500 members and through our associated charitable companies we operate the only two working paddle steamers in Great Britain; PS Waverley and PS Kingswear Castle.

The Society also supports other paddle steamer projects including PS Maid of the Loch and PS Medway Queen.

Without the PSPS there would no longer be the opportunity to sail on a Paddle Steamer in Great Britain.

Our aims are:

• to preserve paddle steamers in sailing condition;
• to educate the public in the historic significance of paddle steamers in the Nation's maritime and industrial heritage;
• to acquire, preserve and exhibit a collection of equipment and material associated with paddle steamers.

We have five branches covering all of Great Britain. Each branch organises regular talks, social and special events throughout the year. Please click on a branch below for more information.

Charity no. SC037603

Charity no. 298328

PSPS Collection

The Paddle Steamer Archive Collection is administered by the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society and forms the largest and most complete archive of material relating to paddle and pleasure steamers in the UK.

The Collection contains over 50,000 items relating to the development of the paddle and pleasure steamers that plied the coasts of the UK from the 1850’s to the present day.

It comprises of written, printed, photographic and digital records as well as physical artefacts.

Although the archive is not open for public viewing some items from the Collection can be viewed at Felixstowe Museum at Landguard Fort, Suffolk, Margate Museum, Kent and Southend Pier Museum, Essex.

We welcome further donations to enhance the Collection. In the first instance please contact the Society's Archive Trustee here.

A small selection of Waverley handbills held in the PSPS Collection.

Forthcoming National Events

National
Oct 24Saturday
PSPS Annual General Meeting 2020PS Maid of the LochBallochThe thirty-third Annual General Meeting of the PSPS will be held on board PS Maid of the Loch, circumstances permitting, on Saturday 24th October 2020. The formal notice and agenda will appear in the Autumn edition of 'Paddle Wheels'.

"A Peep into the Past" on-line was introduced to mark the 50th anniversary of the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society's journal "Paddle Wheels". You can view the story of paddle steamers and the Society through the pages of "Paddle Wheels" starting with the very first issue here.