5th September 1914:
Monarch & Majestic
On Saturday 5th September 1914 Monarch was advertised for a trip leaving Bournemouth at 10.25am, Boscombe 10.40am and Swanage 11.25am for Weymouth where three hours ashore were offered with a
4th September 1953:
Consul, Embassy and Empress
On Friday 4th September 1953 both Consul and Empress were rostered to visit Lulworth Cove with the one bringing passengers from Bournemouth and Swanage and the other from Weymouth.. Both
4th September 2024:
Paddle Steamers at Portland
Could it be that Waverley’s trip on Wednesday 4th September is the first excursion sailing from Portland around the Isle of Wight by paddle steamer ever. In the heyday of
3rd September 2023:
First Sunday in September at Swanage
On the first Sunday in September 2023 PS Waverley called at Swanage Pier at 12.30pm for a trip to view the Bournemouth Air Show and the steamship Shieldhall. Fifty seven
3rd September 1949:
Ravenswood
On Saturday 3rd September 1949 Ravenswood returned to service after her day off on the Friday with a largely new deck crew, two new fireman and a new deck chair
2nd September 2025:
Waverley at Torquay
The weather has not been kind to Waverley for her visit to the South West this year. But she did make it to Dartmouth to meet KC on Saturday 30th
2nd September 1939:
Sussex Coast
With war about to be declared P & A Campbell cancelled all further Sussex Coast sailings and ordered Brighton Queen, Glen Gower and Waverley to return to the Bristol Channel
1st September 2025:
KC Meets Waverley 2025
The weather has not been kind to Waverley for her visit to the South West this year with fresh to strong winds causing many cancellations. However she did make it
September 2025:
KC’s Log September/October 1985
2025 is the 40 anniversary of KC’s first season back in service in 1985. Based at the Historic Dockyard Chatham, which had opened for the first time as a “Living
1st September 1937:
Victoria
On Wednesday 1st September 1937 Cosens’s Victoria (pictured with her bow on the beach at West Bay) was scheduled to run a day trip from Weymouth at 9am around Portland
31st August 1958:
Monarch
After spending the afternoon of Sunday 31st August 1958 running on the Bournemouth/Swanage service with departures from Bournemouth at 2.30pm and 4pm and returns from Swanage at 3.15pm and 5pm
30th August 1950:
Bristol Queen
P & A Campbell got into bed with other organisations to sell tickets for them to help fill up spare capacity on their steamers. As in other years, in 1950
29th August 1957:
Bournemouth Queen
Thursday 29th August 1957 was the last day in service of Red Funnel’s paddle steamer Bournemouth Queen. Built in 1908 as a slightly smaller and not quite as fast, version
28th August 2025:
Waverley Calls at Dundee
In a “first ever” move Waverley is re-positioning from the Firth of Clyde to the South Coast by circumnavigating much of Great Britain. In this mammoth voyage which will see
28th August 1967:
Kingswear Castle
On Monday 28th August 1967 Kingswear Castle arrived under tow at Binfield on the Isle of Wight on charter to the Ridett brothers who then owned Medway Queen. She was
28th August 1956:
Monarch
On Tuesday 28th August 1956 Monarch rescued two men from a small dinghy, called Dumbo, off the Old Harry Rocks in Poole Bay whilst on passage on her regular route
27th August 1886, 1928, 1934 & 1935:
A Bizarre Day
During the period from their development in the 1880s up to their almost complete demise by the late 1960s excursion and ferry paddle steamers in the UK enjoyed an enviable
August 2025:
Whippingham at Bournemouth
In 1930 the Southern Railway commissioned two very large paddle steamers, Whippingham and Southsea, for their Portsmouth based services. At 244ft LOA and 825 GRT they were a huge step
July 2025:
KC’s Log July 1985
In her first season back in service in July 1985 KC ran on 26 operating days from her base at The Historic Dockyard Chatham. This included a visit to Gravesend,
1st July 2025:
KC Returns to Service
Kingswear Castle returned to service for the 2025 season on Tuesday 1st July. Here are a few pics taken aboard on the day. Kingswear Castle is on long term charter
