Kingswear Castle Britain's last steam powered river paddle steamer
1924 - 2024
Sail on
Kingswear Castle
Kingswear Castle returned to service on completion of Phase 2 of her major rebuild on 15th June 2026.
Kingswear Castle is operated on behalf of the Paddle Steamer Kingswear Castle Trust by the Dartmouth Steam Railway and River Boat Company.
Click on the button below to visit the operator’s website for timetable and ticketing information.
Please note that whilst Kingswear Castle runs one hour harbour cruises from Dartmouth on a regular basis she does not run every day. To check if she is running on a specific date please ring 01803 555 872.
History of
Kingswear Castle
Built in 1924 for service on the River Dart in Devon between Dartmouth and Totnes, Kingswear Castle was withdrawn in 1965.
Purchased by volunteers in 1967 who painstakingly restored her to operating condition over ten years, entering service on the Medway and the Thames in 1985.
In 2012 she returned home to the Dart.
Support
Kingswear Castle
As the last British paddle steamer of her type Kingswear Castle continues to provide pleasure and delight to present and future generations more than 100 years after she first entered service.
Following major rebuilds during 2003 and 2006 we are continuing to raise funds to secure her future for the next twenty-five years
Click the button below to find out how you can help.
For information and enquiries regarding tickets, timetables and sailing updates please visit the Dartmouth Steam Railway & River Boat Company website www.dartmouthrailriver.co.uk or call 01803 555 872.
26th September 2026:
Royal Daffodil
Built in Liverpool, the new publicly owned ferry, Royal Daffodill, made her debut in service on the Mersey on Saturday 26th September 2026. At a cost of £26 million, she
25th September 2026:
Waverley on the Thames
Waverley returned to the Thames on Thursday 24th September for a series of trips and will be running in the area up to Sunday 11th October. On Friday 25th September
22nd September 2026:
Paddle Steamers at Newhaven
Waverley made a rare call at Newhaven on the morning of Tuesday 22nd September 2026 Before Waverley arrived on the scene, Newhaven had a long history as a base for
John Megoran recalls the heyday and decline paddle steamers, particularly the Weymouth based paddle steamers that he grew up with. He did not know then that he would go on to help restore, manage and be principal captain of Kingswear Castle for nearly 30 years.
1st October 1953:
Embassy
Embassy was rostered to make her last trips of the 1953 season from Bournemouth on Thursday 1st October. She was due away from her overnight berth alongside Poole Quay at
30th September 1965:
Sandown and Ryde
On Thursday 30th September 1965 the Portsmouth/Ryde paddle steamers Sandown and Ryde were both tucked up for the winter in Newhaven Harbour. Sandown had been the first to cast off
29th September 1964:
Jeanie Deans
On Tuesday 29th September 1964, Jeanie Deans made her last movement under her own steam of the season leaving Craigendoran on the morning tide for her lay up berth in
28th September 1945:
Empress
Just three weeks after the surrender of Japan brought the Second World war to a close, Cosens’s paddle steamer Empress set off from Weymouth for the Medway on 26th September
The latest threefour of 0 paddle steamer orientated articles produced monthly by John Megoran, author, manager and principal captain of Kingswear Castle for nearly 30 years on both the Medway and Thames as well as the River Dart.
October 2026:
Embassy at Weymouth
Embassy is mostly remembered for her two decades after WW2 based at Poole each summer running excursions from Bournemouth to Swanage and the Isle of Wight. However that is not
September 2026:
Malcolm Cockell
Malcolm Cockell is one of that small number of people who made a real and substantial difference to Kingswear Castle. After withdrawal from service on the River Dart in 1965
August 2026:
Paddle Box Freeing Ports
Some paddle steamers, like Stadt Wehlen and others based at Dresden, were built with flat‑sided and decorated paddle boxes without venting through freeing ports because the Elbe offers no conditions
July 2026:
60 Years Since Embassy
Sixty years have now passed since Embassy left Weymouth for the last time, yet she remains one of those ships whose presence lingers long after the vessel herself has gone.
