London Steam Boat Co
1875 The London Steam-boat Company purchased, in March last, the whole of the thirty-eight steam boats and piers belonging to ...[1]
1876 (or maybe as above) Company formed and took over the 30 boats (see list below) of the Woolwich Steam Packet Co; 14 from the Citizen Steam Boat Co and 8 from the Waterman Steam Packet Co and 18 other miscellaneous boats including 7 from W. H. Stratton and one from J. F. D'Oyly - a total of 70 boats.[2]
1878 The company's paddle steamer, Princess Alice, was sunk as a result of collision with the SS Bywell Castle whilst returning from Sheerness; over 600 people lost their lives.
1878 'Steam Boat Enterprise. - On Saturday last was launched at the yard of Messrs Samuda and Co, Cubitt Town, Isle of Dogs, the first of five new boats being built for the London Steam Boat Company, in the presence of Captain Pelly, R.N., Chairman of the company, W. P. Jackson, deputy Chairman, Messrs. W. B. Towse, W. H. Stratton, Directors, J. O. Lever, W. W. Towse, Mr Kelson representing Samuda...'[3]
1879 Share issue. Operates services between Hampton Court and the Nore; also to Clacton-on-Sea; Walton-on-the Naze; Harwich and Ipswich. Owns seventy steamers with shipbuilding yards, stores, premises and piers. Directors- Captain Pelly (Chairman); Rt. Hon. J. A. Roebuck (Deputy Chainman); Francis Bennoch; William P. Jackson; Arthur John Clark Kennedy; William Wright; George L. Shand; W. H. Stratton; W. B. Towse.[4]
1883 The new Pimlico Pier, Ranelagh-road, Pimlico, was formally opened for traffic by the London Steam-boat Co. The old landing stage facing St. George's Square is now to be disused.[5]
The very considerable falling off in the receipts from passenger traffic due to the loss of the Princess Alice soon brought about the company's collapse.
1884 The company was reconstructed; the boats it operated on the Thames, largely without competition, were up to 30 years old and were overdue for replacement[6]
1886 The River Thames Steamboat Co. acquired the assets of the London Co.
The 30 boats from the Woolwich Steam Packet Co
- PS Albert Edward
- PS Alexandra
- PS Ariel
- PS Camelia
- PS Cupid
- PS Doris
- PS Duke of Cambridge
- PS Duke of Edinburgh
- PS Duke of Connaught
- PS Duke of Teck
- PS Fairy
- PS Heron
- PS Nymph
- PS Martin
- PS Metis
- PS Petrel
- PS North Kent
- PS Oread
- PS Naiad
- PS Plover
- PS Prince Alfred
- PS Prince Arthur
- PS Prince of Wales
- PS Princess Alice
- PS Queen of the Isles
- PS Queen of the Orwell
- PS Queen of the Thames
- PS Sea Swallow
- PS Sibyl
- PS Vesta
The 7 boats from W. H. Stratton
The one boat from J. F. D'Oyly
1901 The London Steamboat Company carried, it is said, some twenty million passengers per annum over an average of ten years; in 1901 it had a fleet of 36 steamers.
The London County Council, fascinated by the apparent success of this enterprise ordered 30 paddle steamers, fitted with inclined compound engines and capable of carrying 500 passengers each. The service was opened in 1905. But the public could not be induced to use the steamers. See London County Council Steamboat Service.
In February, 1908, a disastrous report was presented to the Council. The deficit on the service amounted to over £137,000 and a debt of £250,000 remained to be paid off. In the face of that report the Council decided to withdraw the boats and cut the losses.[7]
See Also
Sources of Information
- ↑ Marylebone Mercury 27 November 1875
- ↑ 'Steamers of the Thames and Medway' by Frank Burtt
- ↑ Kentish Independent - Saturday 30 March 1878
- ↑ Echo (London) - Monday 26 May 1879
- ↑ Chelsea News and General Advertiser 04 August 1883
- ↑ The Engineer 1884/02/15
- ↑ The Engineer 1924/09/12