Builders: Samuda Bros, Poplar 1879
Propulsion Type: Paddle, Oscillating (by J Penn & Sons Greenwich)
Owners: Cosens & Co Ltd
Service dates: 1879 -1955
Tonnage: Net 87 Gross 173
Comments:
This ship had the last set of oscillating engines operating and they are now preserved in the Maritime Museum at Southampton. She operated from Bournemouth and Weymouth, sailing to Swanage and the Isle of Wight. Her bow was especially strengthened so that she could land directly onto the beach at Lulworth Cove, as shown here. Empress was reboilered in 1884 and again in 1904. On occasions she sailed to Cherbourg before the building of Monarch and between 1917 and 1919,during the Great War, she served as an examination vessel. In July 1881 she was the first steamer to run a day excursion from Bournemouth to Torquay, a round trip that took 13.5 hours. When the film "Great Expectations" was being made, Empress was disguised with a bell-topped funnel, a bow sprit and enlarged paddle boxes to make her look like a steam packet of the early 19th century and she made two trips to the River Medway to take part in the filming. Empress was finally withdrawn in 1955.
The above picture shows Empress at Lulworth Cove and was taken by my late father. The picture is previously unpublished. For a picture of her embarking passengers on the same day please click here.