Monthly paddle steamer articles written by John Megoran, author, manager and principal captain of Kingswear Castle for nearly 30 years on the Medway and the Thames as well as the River Dart.
You can read more of John’s paddle steamer reminiscences in his regular Megoran’s Musings features on the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society website here.
Choose a year to see more Pictures of the Month:
December 2005:
Capt Shippick’s Audrey Transforms Thames and Medway Excursions
Capt Shippick became master of Cosens’ Brodick Castle (pictured above) in 1908 and stayed with the ship until her withdrawal with boiler trouble in 1910. In the odd way that
November 2005:
Clyde Paddle Steamer Jeanie Deans Goes South November 1965
As part of Dr Beeching’s Draconian pruning of the British railway system, the Clyde lost two of its veteran steamships after the 1964 season, the turbine steamer Duchess of Montrose
October 2005:
Eagle Paddle Steamer Sailings from Tower Pier 1935
Seventy years ago, in the summer of 1935, Londoners had the opportunity to sail down the Thames from Tower Pier every day, excepting Fridays, to Southend, Margate, Ramsgate or Clacton
September 2005:
UK Paddle Steamers Withdrawn September 1965
Forty years ago in September 1965 three more UK paddle steamers were withdrawn from service, the Sandown (pictured above in 1965 at Portsmouth), the Princess Elizabeth and our own Kingswear
August 2005:
Last Season for the Paddle Steamer Empress in 1955
Fifty years ago, in the same summer that British troops were sent overseas on yet another military adventure, in this case to Cyprus, the antique paddle steamer Empress was withdrawn
July 2005:
PSPS Paddle Steamer Charters in 1965
Founded in 1959, the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society was very active in promoting paddle steamers and paddle steamer excursions in the 1960s, from the outset organising various charters and tirelessly
June 2005:
Paddle Steamer Plymouth Belle
One hundred and ten years ago, in the summer of 1895, a large, new paddle steamer appeared on the South Coast of England. With a flush deck extending almost the
May 2005:
P & A Campbell Paddle Steamer Brighton Belle
The start of the season on the Sussex Coast eighty years ago in April 1925 with the paddle steamer Brighton Belle taking advantage of Wednesday early closing day in Hastings
April 2005:
Weymouth Harbour Paddle Steamer Riding Posts
In a harbour where the water comes up towards and occasionally over the top of a quay at high tide there is a risk that any ship with anything sticking
March 2005:
Hythe Ferry Paddle Steamers
One paddle steamer route from history is still very much with us today, although sadly no longer operated by a paddle steamer, the one mile crossing between Hythe Pier (pictured
February 2005:
Paddle Steamer Captain Leonard Horsham
Many will remember Capt Leonard Horsham pictured here with John Richardson aboard his beloved paddle steamer Medway Queen, of which he was master for her whole post war career. In
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