Paddle Steamer Resources by Tramscape
The Internet's largest database of mainly European Paddle Steamers past and present


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PS Ravenswood


Ravenswood in an official photograph obtained from P & A Campbell Ltd by Nigel Lawrence who kindly allowed its use on this web page


Launched on 27th April 1891 by S McKnight at Ayr
Engines : Simple diagonal, replaced by compound diagonal unit in 1909
Dimensions : 215 ft x 24.1 ft
391 Gross Registered Tonnes

For their first new vessel for Bristol, Campbell went back to McKnight of Ayr who had built Madge Wildfire, their previous vessel.
Reboilered and reengined in 1909 by Barclay, Curle and Co, re-appearing with one funnel instead of the original two
Grounded at Lavernock Point in 1911
Spent the 1912-14 seasons on the South Coast
Requisitioned during World War I for use as a minesweeper at Dover.
Went back to the South Coast when Campbells resumed services in 1923, spending three seasons at Brighton
Not requisitioned initially in World War II, she was the only remaining Campbell vessel, running the Cardiff-Weston ferry.
The ferry service was withdrawn during 1940 for fear of enemy bombing raids and Ravenswood was temporarily laid-up
Ravenswood went into naval service in 1941 as an anti-aircraft vessel at Plymouth and Belfast
Returned to civilian service in 1946, featuring "concealed" paddle boxes
Withdrawn in May 1955 after a failed safety survey, leaving Bristol in October of that year for scrapping at Newport

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P and A Campbell
P and A Campbell - Sussex Operations
British Paddle Steamer Index