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News Archive Spring 2010

Captain Bill Branthwaite on the bridge of the Royal Eagle with lady passengers

The General Steam Navigation Company donimated pleasure steamer services on the River Thames. These colour postcards from the 1930s were recently donated to the PSPS and show life aboard the Royal Eagle and Crested Eagle. If you have any Thames or Medway material we would love to hear from you! Contact andrew.gladwell@hotmail.com

Embarkation on the Royal Eagle during the 1930s

Father Neptune's Court aboard the Crested Eagle

Cocktail Bar of the Royal Eagle during the 1930s

Deck Lounge aboard the Royal Eagle during the 1930s

More Memories of the Thames

Photo taken aboard the Golden Eagle around 1938

The PSPS Collection has recently acquired a number of postcards and photographs showing General Steam Navigation Company pleasure steamers on the River Thames. These include images of such well-loved steamers as Royal Daffodil, Royal Sovereign and Golden Eagle.

They are typical of the diverse range of material that the PSPS holds on River Thames pleasure steamers.

Departure from Margate Jetty around 1965

Memories of the Thames

Passengers aboard the City of Rochester in 1911

Recent acuisitions have included a beautiful brochure issued by the 'Queen Line of Steamers' dating from 1930, a number of photographs taken aboard the City of Rochester in July 1911, a postcard for the Princess Elizabeth when she was a floating restaurant and a postcard dating from the 1970s showing Caledonia moored on the Thames Embankment. They are typical of the diverse range of material that the PSPS holds on River Thames pleasure steamers.

Postcard from the Princess Elizabeth when moored on the Thames

Caledonia on the Thames Embankment during the 1970s

1951 - The Year of the 'Festival of Britain' and....

Handbill for Empress Queen sailings between Torquay and St Peter Port

If you were on holiday at Torquay in 1951 you could enjoy some spectacular cruises aboard the Empress Queen. This splendid P & A Campbell steamer offered to St Peter Port on Guernsey during that year and you could even get a special train connection from Bristol and the Bristl Channel.

This fascinating collection of handbills and ephemera was collected by Sidney Clifton Smith Cox and are currently being catalogued onto the PSPS Collection database.

Another recent acquisition was a guide to Dartmouth dating from the 1930s. It includes details of our own Kingswear Castle and shows several photographs of scenes along the River Dart. The PSPS Collection has a good collection of material relating to the River Dart steamers.

Empress Queen handbill for Thursday 14th June 1951

A Trip Round the Bay - Torquay in 1948

If you were on holiday at Torquay in 1948 you were spoilt for choice with the number of pleasure boats operating from the harbour. The biggest was the Pride of Devon whilst our very own Kingswear Castle was happily operating on the nearby River Dart.

All of these fascinating handbills come from our splendid collection and show what a vast and interesting collection is being formed by the PSPS to show the development of pleasure steamers around the coast of the UK.

Handbill for Torbay Prince and Torbay Belle for 1948

Cosens in 1949

	1949 was a vintage year for the operating company - Cosens of Weymouth. The PSPS is currently sorting and cataloguing a major collection of handbills and ephemera dating from 1898 onwards. One random bundle of material relates to 1949. Around 9,000 mint condition handbills will be catalogued over the coming months ready for researchers and enthusiasts to enjoy a unique peep into the past. Here are a few handbills that take us on a nostalgic journey back to cruises operated by the well-loved Cosens of Weymouth - exactly sixty years ago in September 1949. If you have any photographs of cruises at the time or any material relating to Cosens that you would like to donate please contact andrew.gladwell@hotmail.com

Bits and Bobs

The stern of the Princess Elizabeth close to Tower Bridge around 1970

The PSPS has 2,821 postcards in its collection. They range from the first picture postcards printed during the 1890s to 2009.
These four postcards were donated to the PSPS Collection this week and date from the 1930s onwards. They all show pleasure steamers that are still in operation or are preserved. We always welcomes donations of postcards. If you would like to do this please email andrew.gladwell@hotmail.com

A 1930s viiew of our own Kingswear Castle on the River Dart at Totnes during the 1930s.

The Humber ferry Wingfield Castle in preservation at Hartlepool

Waverley around the Firth of Clyde

There have been literally hundreds of postcards showing Waverley that have been printed since 1947. The PSPS Collection recently acquired a large collection of Waverley postcards showing her since 1975. Here are just a few!

Paddle Steamer Cruising in 1952

	1952 was a vintage year for paddle steamer cruises in the UK! The PSPS is currently sorting and cataloguing a major collection of handbills and ephemera dating from 1898 onwards. One random bundle of material relates to 1952. During that year, it was possible to travel on a paddle seamer around most of the UK coastline and we show here some of the handbills and brochures from 1952. Who would have thought in that year, that just a decade later most of the steamers had either gone or who were almost ready for the scrapyard. Around 9,000 handbills will be catalogued over the coming months ready for researchers and enthusiasts to enjoy a unique peep into the past!

Tighnabruich - Then and Now

The Paddle Steamer Preservation Society has a policy of collecting contemporary material as well as collecting material from the past. By doing this, we are able to build up a superb collection for the future that includes most new postcards, souvenirs, handbills or item of ephemera produced. We do our best to collect everything, but always welcome any new postcard or leaflet. So if you see something new please send it to; PSPS 31 Meadow Road, Gravesend, Kent, DA11 7LR.

Below you will find some recent acquisitions - postcards from the 1970s as well as some purchased in July 2009. All show Tighnabruiach and the Kyles of Bute - favourite destinations for generations of Clyde steamer passengers.

More Memories of Caledonia

Here are some photographs showing the fondly-remembered Caledonia captured on film by Bernard Dixon. These photographs plus many others are currently being catalogued ready to be made accessible to researchers. Hopefully, they will bring back some very happy memories of days cruising on the Firth of Clyde.

More Donations of Firth of Clyde Material

The PSPS collection has acquired a number of superb colour photographs and ephemera this week that cover paddle steamers on the Firth of Clyde. We always welcome any material of Clyde steamers as we have very little material from this area and would like more to allow us to pursue our educational role.

Our Collection Needs You!

WE NEED YOUR DONATIONS!

We have a great collection but with your help we can make it even greater! Donations are always welcome!

The PSPS is a registered charity (No 298328) with a core aim of preserving historic material relating to paddle steamers and educating the public on their heritage. Its collection is managed under UK Museum Association guidelines. Any material donated would therefore find a safe and permanent home where future generations will be able to enjoy and use it.

If you would like to donate material to the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society Collection please direct your enquiry to:

PSPS, 31 Meadow Road, Gravesend, Kent, DA11 7LR
or email: andrew.gladwell@hotmail.com

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© Copyright Andrew Gladwell, Kieran McCarthy and Paddle Steamer Preservation Society 2010
Paddle Steamer Preservation Society. A company limited by guarantee No. 2167853 (England & Wales).
A charity registered in England & Wales (No. 298328) and in Scotland (SC037603). Registered Office, 17 Stockfield Close, Hazlemere, High Wycombe, HA5 7LA

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