Princess Elizabeth

Paddle Steamer Resources by Tramscape

PS Princess Elizabeth

Princess Elizabeth at her current home in Dunkerque, France
Photo courtesy of Mr F van Otterdyk

Launched on June 2nd, 1927 by Day, Summers & Co at Northam, Southampton
Engines : Compound diagonal
Dimensions : 195 ft x 24.2 ft
388 Gross Registered Tonnes

Operated on a mixture of excursion and packet sailings from Southampton and Bournemouth.
Requisitioned in September 1939 as a minesweeper.
Made four trips to Dunkirk at the end of May 1940
Between 1942 and 1944 she was used as an anti-aircraft vessel
Reconditioned and fitted with an oil-burning boiler she re-entered service in 1946.
At Easter 1952, she became the last vessel of her fleet to operate from Bournemouth.
In reserve from 1953 to 1957 and used for short excursion work in 1958.
Sold in 1959 to Torbay Steamers Ltd, operating out of Torquay in 1960 and 1961.
Reappeared briefly at Bournemouth in 1962.
Placed at Weymouth in the 1963 to 1965 seasons for Coastal Steamers (Weymouth) Ltd.
Sold to Mr A W Render in 1966 for planned use as a casino.
The venture did not materialise and in 1967 she was in the ownership of Newhaven-based shipbreakers.
Resold to Ferry Services and Supplies Ltd of Southampton. Engines removed at this stage.
Taken to Northney Yacht Marina on Hayling Island in 1968 for Mr H Butler.
Sold the following year to Mr D Hickman.
Established in 1970 as a floating restaurant on the Thames in London slightly upstream of Tower Bridge on the north bank.
Moved in December 1987 to the River Seine in Paris at Pont Mirabeau and used as an art gallery.
Moved to Dunkerque harbour in 1999 and established as a conference centre and is moored alongside the "Pole Marine" shopping centre.

In poor condition at Woolston in October 1967, she was to be re-sold a number of times before she finally received a full refurbishment and appeared on the Thames as a restaurant.
Photo by courtesy of Nigel Lawrence.

Return to:

Southampton, Isle of Wight and South of England Royal Mail Steam Packet Company
Torbay Steamers Ltd
Coastal Steamers (Weymouth) Ltd.
Preserved Steamer List
British Paddle Steamer Index

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