PADDLE STEAMER HERITAGE
The Paddle Steamer Preservation Society Collection owes its origins to the many individuals that collected together material from the fast disappearing paddle steamers of the 1960s. Such famous vessels as London Belle, Royal Sovereign and Consul are just some of the famous paddle steamers that are remembered in the collection. Today many of the posters, telegraphs, models, handbills and china from these fondly remembered ships are displayed in museums around the UK. But the collection is still growing each year with many interesting new donations along with collecting items from paddle steamers of the twenty first century! The entire collection is available for members of the public to use whether for research, inspiration or just sheer enjoyment!
THE COLLECTION
Apart from the larger objects, the collection includes thousands of handbills, photographs, models, plans, books, tickets, china, silverware, ships fittings, posters and ephemera!
To view some examples, click here.
THE WEB SITE
This web site has been built to make the Collection accessible as well as providing an online resource for paddle steamer research. It also looks at the heritage of our three steamers and will hopefully attract more donations of heritage material to the Society so that we can further promote paddle steamer heritage. With over 20,000 images and other material in the collection, it will take a long time to create full online galleries, but initial ones have been added and more will appear on a regular basis until we have a huge online visual resource.
LOCATIONS
The main objects from the collection are housed in museums around the UK. These include; Southend Pier Museum, Felixstowe Museum, Weymouth Museum, Margate Old Town Hall Museum, Ramsgate Maritime Museum and Southampton Maritime Museum. Objects on display include; the paddle box emblem and bell from the PS Royal Sovereign, Consul’s telegraphs, London Belle’s whistle and models of Royal Eagle, Waverley and Golden Eagle. For opening times and locations of these museums contact the Museum Officer.
DONATIONS
The PSPS Collection always welcomes donations to ensure that the priceless heritage of paddle steamers is preserved and made available for future generations to enjoy.
The Paddle Steamer Preservation Society Collection enables people to explore the collection for inspiration, learning and enjoyment. We collect, safeguard and make accessible artefacts and records now and for the future
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