Builders: Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Co Ltd 1894
Propulsion type: Paddle, compound diagonal
Owners: Palace Steamers Ltd, New Palace Steamers Ltd, Liverpool & North Wales Steamship Co Ltd
Service dates: 1894 - 1925
Tonnage: Gross 1554
Comments:
Built for use on the Thames for the London (Tilbury) to Boulogne service, La Marguerite was a large, sumptuously fitted out and fast (20 knots) steamer. She was the first steamer that could go from the Thames to France and back in the same day and was hugely popular with her passengers. Unfortunately her operating costs were exhorbitant and despite her popularity she was never profitable for her owners. After ten years she was sold to the Liverpool and North Wales Steamship Co Ltd, where coal and labour were cheaper, for use on the Liverpool, Llandudno and Menai Bridge service. She was requisitioned for use by the Admiralty as a transport ship during the First World War. In 1919 she was chartered by the Isle of Man Steam Packet Co for one season, after which she returned to her old Liverpool and Menai Bridge route. She was broken up at Briton Ferry by Wards in 1925.
For a superb closeup of her paddle box please click here.
For two glass "magic lantern" slides of her at Ramsgate Harbour circa 1900, please click here.
For a recently discovered glass plate negative of her leaving Boulogne circa 1895, please click here.
Thames, Medway and East Coast Steamers index