Builders: The Fairfield Shipbuilding & Engineering Co. Ltd 1893
Propulsion type: Paddle, Compound diagonal
Owners: The London & East Coast Express Steamship Service Ltd,Victoria Steamboat Association Ltd , New Palace Steamers Ltd, Mr A W Pickard, Royal Sovereign S S Co. Ltd, R S Steamship Co Ltd, General Steam Navigation Co Ltd
Service dates: 1893 - 1929
Tonnage: Net 365 Gross 891
Comments:
The splendid view above comes from the Steve Kelley collection and I am indebted to Steve for letting me show the picture here. Steve's grandfather was Captain of Royal Sovereign, as well as the Woolwich Belle. More pictures from Steve's collection will be added shortly. These include some rare on board shots of Royal Sovereign and her Captain. Click here for the first page of pictures.
Sister ship to Koh-i-noor, although Royal Sovereign's forward funnel was further forward than Koh-i-noor. She operated on the Kent coast service to Margate and Ramsgate from London. At one time she was said to be "London's favourite steamer". A popular and long serving ship, she had many owners, finally being sold to the General Steam Navigation Co Ltd at the end of her career for £5540. Her first owners were a company in whom both her builders, Fairfields, and The Victoria Steamboat Association had an interest. Royal Sovereign's funnels and mast were collapsable to enable her to pass under London Bridge and she also boasted bathrooms, a barbers, book and confection stalls, and other facilities on board for her saloon passengers. Royal Sovereign was not requisitioned for First World War service and was laid up at Tilbury for the duration. After purchase by Royal Sovereign Steamship Co (registered in the name of Mr A W Pickard) when the war was over, she was the only public pleasure steamer in excess of 100 tons gross sailing on the Thames. She remained so until the General Steam's Golden Eagle recommenced sailings in May 1920. Royal Sovereign was eventually bought by the General Steam as a stop gap to replace Eagle but she sailed for the GSN Co for one season only, in 1929, and in February 1930 was sold for scrapping in Holland. Her ornately carved paddle box was rescued by the Edwardian collector William E Groom and has survived. It was displayed in Ted's Garden for many years at his house in Lewisham, where he kept many other steamer relics. For more information click here. For a close up of Royal Sovereign's paddle box click here.