Builders: McKnight Ayr 1896
Propulsion type: Paddle compound diagonal
Owners: P & A Campbell Ltd
Service dates: 1896 - 1956
Tonnage: Net 183 Gross 483
Comments:
PS Britannia was similar in design to her fleetmate, PSCambria, but was five feet longer and slightly broader of beam. In 1935 Britannia was re boilered and received a larger eliptical funnel and is shown above in this condition. After service in the second world war, boiler trouble caused her to be fitted with a new double ended boiler which required the use of two funnels. PS Britannia was a fast ship and she still holds the Bristol Channel speed record for a trip from Ilfracombe to Weston with a time of one hour and fifty six minutes. She was sold for scrapping in 1956 after sixty years as a favourite steamer.
For a close up of Britannia's paddle box, please click here.
For a personal account of (Thomas) Arthur Gaunt, who served aboard her during WW2, please click here.
For a pictorial record of a day trip from Ilfracombe to Lundy on 16 August 1951, showing pictures by Reg Silk, please click here.
For a photographic record, compiled by her Chief Engineer Hector McFadyen during the Second World War, please click here
For a splendid picture of her off Sully Point in 1952/3 please click here.