Builders: J. Samuel White & Co, Cowes 1922
Propulsion type: Paddle two independent sets of simple condensing engines
Owners: London County Council
Service dates: 1922 - 1963
Tonnage: Gross 609
Comments:
This rare pre-war colour picture comes from the Cyril Perrier collection and shows one of Cyril's father's transparencies using Agfacolor film of the thirties. The picture was taken on 11 April 1938. The Woolwich paddle-ferry Squires was built in 1922, one of four more-or-less identical vessels introduced between 1922-30 to replace the 1880's originals. The Woolwich ferry was free and the service was inaugurated on 23 March 1889. The new boats were needed as motor vehicle traffic had increased so much as to require four vessels to maintain the service. The ferries were quite manoeuvrable, having two separate engines, each working a paddle wheel independently. Squires was sold for scrap 1963 to Jaques Balker and Zonen, Belgium. All the four were scrapped about this time, being replaced by the three current vessels. Cyril tells me that he remembers the old vessels well, often using them as a small boy on 1/-All Day tramway expeditions around London. Cyril's father worked in Woolwich, so he would meet him there. My thanks go to Cyril for letting me share this previously unpublished photograph with you.