Leonard Bentley
River Thames
This photograph was taken sometime between 1895 and 1903. It shows two of the most famous excursion paddle steamers on the Thames at this time, the Koh-I-Noor and the Royal Sovereign moored in the middle of the river with the Cannon Street Railway bridge in the background. Both steamers were below the bridge boats which were used on services and excursions to estuary towns such as Southend, Ipswich, Margate and Ramsgate. Both were built by the Fairfield Shipbuilding & Engineering Co in Govan, Scotland. The steamers had articulated funnels and masts so they could pass under London Bridge and use the Old Swan Pier which was just west of the bridge on the north bank. The Koh-I-Noor was laid up at the Gare Loch at the start of the first world war and broken up in 1918 at Morecambe. The Royal Sovereign survived on the Thames until 1930 when she was sold to Dutch ship breakers.
River Thames
This photograph was taken sometime between 1895 and 1903. It shows two of the most famous excursion paddle steamers on the Thames at this time, the Koh-I-Noor and the Royal Sovereign moored in the middle of the river with the Cannon Street Railway bridge in the background. Both steamers were below the bridge boats which were used on services and excursions to estuary towns such as Southend, Ipswich, Margate and Ramsgate. Both were built by the Fairfield Shipbuilding & Engineering Co in Govan, Scotland. The steamers had articulated funnels and masts so they could pass under London Bridge and use the Old Swan Pier which was just west of the bridge on the north bank. The Koh-I-Noor was laid up at the Gare Loch at the start of the first world war and broken up in 1918 at Morecambe. The Royal Sovereign survived on the Thames until 1930 when she was sold to Dutch ship breakers.