The story of Kingswear Castle

Kingswear Castle was built in 1924 for service on the picturesque River Dart in Devon. She was built by Philip & Son of Dartmouth and was almost identical to her two sisters; Compton Castle and Totnes Castle that had been built a few years earlier. She was the last paddle steamer to be built for service on the Dart and was a replacement for a previous Kingswear Castle that had been built in 1904. The steam engine of the 1904 was transferred to the present Kingswear Castle when the steamer entered service in 1924.

From the 1920s until the 1960s, the three beautiful little River Dart steamers plied their business on the River Dart paddling between Dartmouth, or Kingswear and Totnes. At this time, Kingswear Castle could carry an astounding 400 passengers. Their work was uninterrupted apart from the second World War when Kingswear Castle was on charter to the American Navy as a liberty ship at Dartmouth.

By the 1960s, the traditional day at the seaside was beginning to wane and paddle steamers all over the UK were suffering heavy losses and most steamers were one by one withdrawn from service. The River Dart was no exception and Kingswear Castle was withdrawn at the end of the 1965 after forty one years service on the Dart. Soon after, Nick Knight from the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society surveyed the vessel with the object of the Society purchasing the ship. Kingswear Castle was purchased by the Society in the spring of 1967 for the sum of £600.

The purchase of Kingswear Castle was the easy bit and thoughts now turned to what should be done with the vessel. Both money and skilled personnel were not forthcoming at the time and it was decided to charter her in the short term to the Ridett Brothers on the Isle of Wight who were operating the Medway Queen as a floating restaurant. Kingswear Castle was prepared for a coastal voyage and set off for her new life in preservation from Dartmouth under tow in August 1967. But, life for Kingswear Castle on the Isle of Wight wasn't great and she soon became neglected. She was steamed twice in 1969 for BBC's Bird's Eye View series. By 1970, the PSPS seriously thought of selliing her for scrap due to her deteriorating state but, fortunately a new projec leader was found and the ship was moved to the River Medway arriving in June 1971. The following eight years saw her restoration proceed very slowly indeed and many setbacks were encountered. By the late 1970s, the project really took off and by November 1983, she was ready to be steamed again and close to re-entering service. 1984 saw her sail with passengers for the first time although just twelve at a time could be carried. John Megoran became her master and General Manager in the following winter and in May 1985, Kingswear Castle entered full service again twenty years after she had first been withdrawn.

Since 1985, Kingswear Castle has undertaken a wide programme of cruises on the River Medway as well as visiting the River Thames and places such as Whitstable, Southend and London regularly - all very much diiferent and far more hectic than her life on the River Dart! She has also carried many distinguished guests including HRH Prince Edward, Margaret Thatcher and Sir Harry Secombe. Kingswear Castle won the National Steam Heritage Award in 1986 and was the overall winner in the Scania Transport Trust Awards in 1995. Kingswear Castle is on the core collection list of the National Historic Ships Committee.

Material in the PSPS Collection on Kingswear Castle

Purchase a photograph of Kingswear Castle

Technical details

Key dates

Interesting facts

Paddle Steamer Kingswear Castle