The Decline, Fall & Eventual Fate of the London County Council Paddle Steamer Fleet of 1905
The history of the LCC paddle fleet has been the result of a series of letters in Marine News which started in July 2005 with a photo feature on the Paddle steamer Princess Patricia ex Shakespeare.
The following is the collected input either submitted by members or found by further research.
The information given has been gathered from various sources but is not necessarily cross checked therfore could very well contain errors but does form a "basis for discussion"..
If you spot any errors or ommisions, or if you can help with any information about these little vessels that have, in some cases, travelled far and lived long, please contact via the Contact Us form. Thank you, it will be gratefully recieved and duly acknowledged.
Acknowledgements are due to:
Paddle Steamers of the Thames & Medway, Frank Burtt
The "Tramscape" website LCC Ferry
The London Journal Ralph Turvey
Paddle Wheels (Journal of the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society)
Alistaire Deayton
WSS Members:
Bruce Allan for information on Shipbuilders Napier Miller
David Asprey for information on vessels requisitioned by
Royal Indian Marine / War Office
Ferry in the Pool of London
Courtesy "victorianweb.org"
Web Sites of interest connected with the L.C.C Ferry.
For a background history to The Thames Ironworks and its connection with famous warships and West Ham Football Club visit the PortCities website.
Also from PortCities, photos of: King Alfred & Vanbrugh
For further photos of the ferries visit the Simplon Post card site.
Note: BOADICEA credited on the Simplon site to the LCC, was a steamer owned by the Thames Steamboat Company. It was one of three boats (others, ALEXANDRIA & CLEOPATRA) ordered when they took over the Victoria Steamboats fleet. They were built in 1898 and were very similar in size and layout to the L.C.C boats and built by Thames Ironworks. They were with the Thames Steamboat fleet till 1912.
John Megoran's Kingswear Castle Site has photos of a similar paddler to the LCC
Victorian Web Architechture site. Photos of the Thames with ferries
Napier Miller at Yoker & photo of CHAUCER from the clydesite.co.uk website
L.C.C Paddlers on the Tramscape site
The following site provided information but is currently unavailable:
A report by Ralph Turvey. An in depth study of the history, particularly the economic aspects of the LCC ferry service.