Builders: William Denny & Bros 1896
Propulsion type: Paddle, diagonal three crank triple expansion
Owners: Numerous, including Belle Steamers and General Steam Navigation Co Ltd (as Laguna Belle)
Service dates: 1896 - 1946
Tonnage: Net 266 Gross 570
Comments:
This picture is a W E Groom original and has never been published before. It has been kindly chosen and supplied by W E Groom's Great, Great ,Grandson, Thomas Peter Turner (Tom) , aged 9.
Part of the Belle Steamers fleet, she was designed for use on the London-Great Yarmouth routes. Acquired by H E Kingsman in 1930, she was renamed Laguna Belle and sailed on the London-Clacton route, although omitted Southend, after whom she was originally named. The price then for a return day trip was four shillings (20p). Sold in 1936 to the General Steam Navigation Co Ltd, she was retained on the Southend-Clacton service, sailing on Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays. On the other days of the week she visited the London docks and cruised for the Port of London Authority. She was eventually scrapped in Holland in 1946.