Devonia sails from Bristol to Brighton in just under 28 hours.
16th May 1923 Devonia
John Megoran recalls the heyday and decline paddle steamers, particularly the Weymouth based paddle steamers that he grew up with, hoping that one day he would captain a paddle steamer.
He did realise his ambition – and more – restoring, managing and as principal captain of PS Kingswear Castle for nearly 30 years on both the Medway and Thames.
John has written several books about paddle and pleasure steamers that may be found here.
5th May 1953 Monarch
Monarch in dry-dock at Southampton 5th May 1953.
Monarch pictured in drydock at Southampton 5th May 1953.
27th April 1964 Consul
On 27th April 1964 Consul left Weymouth for slipping at Poole.
25th April 1963 Bristol Queen
Bristol Queen passing through Weymouth Town Bridge.
On 25th April 1963 Bristol Queen was towed out of Weymouth Backwater through the Town Bridge.
20th April 1961 Princess Elizabeth Shifts Ship
Looking forward from the aft deck aboard Princess Elizabeth.
Princess Elizabeth sails from Dartmouth to Plymouth for her annual dry-docking 20th April 1961.
4th July 1968 Ryde
Ryde ran a special cruise from Southsea to meet round the world yachtsman Alec Rose in 1968.
Plus ça Change?
Read this letter from P & A Campbell management to PW 1968.
More Paddle Steamers Please
If the Swiss can do it why can’t we?
13th June 2018 Herrsching
A trip on the Ammersee aboard Europe’s latest paddler Herrsching built as recently as 2002.
11th June 2018 Diessen
A trip on the paddler Diessen on the Ammersee near Munich.
13th July 1947 Princess Elizabeth
Most often associated with the Southampton to Cowes ferry and pottering about in the Solent, the Lizzie hit excursion peaks just after the Second World War.
Last Clyde Season of the ‘Jeanie Deans’
Fifty summers ago, in 1964, there were still four paddle steamers operating on the Clyde, the Jeanie Deans, Waverley, Caledonia and Talisman.