18th August 1953:
Bournemouth
On Tuesday 18th August 1953, Bournemouth Pier was one of the busiest excursion hubs in Britain: fifteen paddle steamer departures in eleven and a half hours. Let’s look in detail:
17th August 1937:
Sailings from Lulworth Cove
Lulworth Cove was ever a beauty spot at which paddle steamers delivered far more passengers than they ever picked up but there were some staying in the vicinity who did
17th August 1958:
Embassy
On Sunday 17th August 1958 Embassy sailed from Bournemouth Pier at 2.30pm for a “Grand Channel Cruise to Portland Dockyard for a close up view of America’s famous nuclear submarine
16th August 1958:
Bristol Queen
On Saturday 16h August 1958 Bristol Queen was scheduled to sail from Bristol (9am) to Clevedon (10.05am), Cardiff (11.05am), Penarth (11.15am) and, Barry (11.50am) for Ilfracombe (2pm). She was then
15th August 1924:
St Elvies
On Friday 8th August 1924 St Elvies was scheduled to take the day trip leaving Prince’s Landing Stage Liverpool at 10.45am for Llandudno (1.05pm – 1.15pm), Beaumaris (2.10pm), Bangor (2.25pm)
15th August 1959:
Consul
On Saturday 15th August 1959 Consul ran one hour trips from Weymouth at 2pm, 3pm and 4pm to view the United States Navy’s newly built nuclear powered submarine USS Skipjack
15th-22nd August 1966:
A Week in the Life of La Duchesse de Normandie
Although not propelled by paddle wheels I tend to think of La Duchesse de Normandie as an honorary paddle steamer. She was 180ft long. She had two triple expansion steam
14th August 1939:
Balmoral
On Monday 14th August 1939 Balmoral was scheduled to sail on a day trip from Southampton to Ryde, Southsea, Sandown, Shanklin, Ventnor and Bournemouth. She was due away from Southampton
14th-20th August 1960:
A Week in the Life of Consul
Consul started her 1960 season on Saturday 4th June running a ferry service between Weymouth and Portland Naval Dockyard for Navy Days. Her last scheduled trips of the season were
13th August 1952:
Cardiff Queen
On Wednesday 13th August 1952 Cardiff Queen was scheduled to run from Hastings (8.15am), Eastbourne (9.15am) and Brighton (10.30am) to Shanklin, Isle of Wight (1.30pm – 3.30m) then back to
12th August 1935:
Golden Eagle
On Monday 12th August 1935 Golden Eagle, “The Happy Ship” was scheduled to leave Tower Pier (8am), Greenwich (8.30am), North Woolwich (9am), Southend (10.45am) for Margate (12.30pm). She then ran
11th August 1930:
Snowdon
On Monday 11th August 1930 Snowdon was scheduled to leave Llandudno (10.30am) for Beaumaris (11.45am), Bangor (12 noon), Menai Bridge (12.15pm) and Caernarvon (1pm – 3pm) with return to Menai
10th August 1960:
Monarch
On Wednesday 10th August 1960 Monarch was rostered to spend the day on the Bournemouth/Swanage service followed by a non-landing evening cruise to Totland Bay, Isle of Wight. She was
10th August 1962:
Waverley
On Fridays from 6th July to 24th August 1962 Waverley was advertised in the steamer notices to run the “Up River Cruise to Glasgow Viewing the famous shipyards and docks
9th August 1965:
Waverley
On Monday 9th August 1965 Waverley ran aground in Ardrossan Harbour while covering the 07.05 ferry service inward bound from Brodick. This trip was included in Waverley’s weekly roster from
8th August 1952:
Victoria
On Friday 8th August 1952 Cosens’ Victoria was due away from Weymouth (9.30am) for Swanage (12.05pm) and Totland Bay, Isle of Wight (2pm – 4pm) and then back to Swanage
8th August 1955:
Cardiff Queen
On Monday 8th August 1955 Cardiff Queen ran a super long day trip away from Swansea at 8.30am for Ilfracombe 10.30am and then back across the Bristol Channel to Milford
8th-16th August 1976:
A Week in the Life of Balmoral
What was Balmoral — by then the only ship left in the P & A Campbell fleet — doing in August 1976, and how did the weather affect her sailings?
7th August 1963:
Embassy
On Wednesday 7th August 1963 Embassy ran a day trip from Poole via Bournemouth to Yarmouth and Cowes, Isle of Wight. By this stage in her career Embassy had largely
6th August 1914:
Majestic
On Thursday 6th August 1914 Majestic — described by Cosens as “Second to none on the South Coast” — was re‑scheduled to run a day trip from Bournemouth, Boscombe and