London and Westminster Steam Boat Co

In 1835, the London & Westminster Steamboat Company instituted a non-stop service between the Old Swan Pier and an exclusive landing stage which then existed at the southern end of Westminster Bridge alongside the site of the present London County Hall. Morning and evening the boats were crowded; they were popularly known as the “flower boats,” as all were named after flowers, the name being painted on the paddleboxes. They were all double-enders, and had oscillating engines by J. Penn and Son. The funnels were bell-topped, painted black with a white band near the top. The available particulars of these boats are as follows: PS Azalea, PS Bluebell, PS Rose, PS Dahlia, PS London Pride, PS Sunflower, PS Lotus, PS Camelia. These boats had a speed of10.5 knots, and were driven by paddle wheels of 8 feet diameter with fixed floats. In 1849, the paddles of the LONDON PRIDE were replaced by wheels of 9 ft. 4 in. diameter having feathering floats, the speed being increased thereby to 13 knots. The DAHLIA, LONDON PRIDE, SUNFLOWER, LOTUS and CAMELIA had many changes of ownership, and eventually became part of the fleet of the London Steamboat Company.

1836 R. J. W. Leith and two or three friends started the London and Westminster Steamboat Company, the first of several companies which maintained a service of small passenger boats between London Bridge and various places higher up the river.

The London and Westminster Company’s steamers were known as the "Flower Boats", and ran from and to the Surrey side of Westminster Bridge. Of the original boats, five, viz., the ‘PS Rose,’ the ‘PS Lily,’ the ‘PS Iris,’ the ‘PS Daisy,’ and the ‘PS Shamrock,’ were engined by Mr. Spiller.

c.1838 Company started operating steamers between the London and Hungerford Bridges.

1865 the Woolwich Steam Packet Co amalgamated with the Iron, Citizen and Westminster Companies.

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