East Coast Paddle Steamer

East Coast Paddle Steamers

Steamers have sailed these coastal waters since the early 19th century. First built of wood or iron and propelled by a paddle wheel, they were comparatively slow. With open decks and exposed to all weathers they had little comfort for their passengers. It was during the latter part of the century that sea cruising became popular with the arrival of the modern paddle steamer. These vessels were larger, faster and more spacious, allowing day returns along the coast and to the continent. These in turn were succeeded by luxury motor vessels that ran until 1966.

Paddle steamers drew very little water and were able to navigate in quite shallow channels, thereby taking more direct routes and operating in areas not usually frequented by this size of vessel. However during neap tides, when there was insufficient water in the swatchways, a detour was necessary to avoid grounding. On such occasions both directions of traffic at Clacton was diverted around the Gunfleet and at Margate a similar course of action around the Margate Sands.

Initially harbours and the calm waters of rivers and estuaries were the only places pleasure vessels could visit; the appearance of piers at seaside resorts encouraged these steamers to use them

Paddle steamers bound from London to Harwich and Ipswich to the north and Ramsgate and Folkestone to the south would board their passengers from small boats whilst anchored in the Thames. A single journey north or south would take a day. As the return day trip excursion developed, the Old Swan Pier just upstream from London Bridge came into use as an embarkation point. To enable the steamers to get under the bridge they were fitted with hinged funnels and telescopic masts. Wharves in the Pool of London were also used but on the completion of Tower Pier in 1929 all pleasure steamers ran from there.

Calls down river were made at Greenwich, North Woolwich, Tilbury or Gravesend. Vessels coming from Strood Pier on the River Medway at Rochester would call at Chatham and Sheerness. Most steamers made a call at Southend Pier, completed in 1891, before cruising along the East Anglian or Kent coastlines.

When the service from London was extended beyond Harwich, steamers made no official calls between Walton on the Naze and Yarmouth because the resort piers had not been built. However it was common practice for the steamers to slow down off the larger resorts and embark and disembark passengers by small boats provided by local boatmen.

The majority of items on display in the Paddle Steamer Room are on loan from the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society. 

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