Builders: William Denny & Bros Dumbarton 1897
Propulsion type: Paddle, triple expansion
Owners: Belle Steamers Ltd, Coast Development Corporation Ltd, PSM Syndicate Ltd, RSS Co, New Medway Steam Packet Co Ltd, South Western Steam Navigation Co
Service dates: 1897 - 1951
Tonnage: Net 105 Gross 465
Comments:
Built by Dennys at a cost of £22000, Walton Belle achieved 17 knots on her trials. She was similar to Yarmouth Belle, although was slightly shorter in length. She was orignally on the Great Yarmouth to Clacton run, where she met the London boat. In 1902 she was chartered, along with Southwold Belle and Yarmouth Belle, by the Southampton company of South Coast and Continental Steamers. This was for a review of the fleet at Spithead for the Coronation Review although disagreements over the catering arrangements marred the charter. She was employed as a minesweeper during the First World War until 1919 when she was converted, along with the London Belle, for use as a hospital ship all the way to the White Sea, some 2000 miles away. Whilst taking some three weeks each way and despite encountering some very heavy seas they both returned unscathed. In 1925 she was sold the New Medway Steam Packet Company and was renamed Essex Queen. She was reconditioned in 1931 and sailed to Clacton or Margate and Ramsgate, as well as to London for dock cruises. She was sold again in 1946 to the South Western Steam Navigation Co of Totnes and renamed Pride of Devon. She was finally scrapped at Grays in 1951.