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River Dart Steamboat Company
Dartmouth SP Co Ltd (DSPCo) : 1859-1877
Dartmouth & Torbay SP Co (D&TSPCo): 1877-1906
River Dart Steamboat Company (RDSBCo): 1904-1974
Brief History of the Company:-
The origins of the company can be traced back to 1856, when Charles Seale Hayne inherited his father's fortune and began involvement in various local enterprises. Amongst these were the proposed Dartmouth & Torbay Railway and associated steamer services from the railhead at Kingswear. He also became the leader of the Dartmouth Harbour Commissioners. His first steamer was the
Louisa
, which he part-owned with John Moody. This was followed by the paddle tug
Pilot
, which was also used for excursions. In 1859 their shares passed to Seale Hayne's newly formed Dartmouth Steam Packet Co Ltd (DSPCo). There was a rival steamer, the
Dartmouth,
but she was sold before DSP's newbuilding, the
Newcomin
, arrived in 1864. The Dartmouth & Torbay Railway arrived in Kingswear in August 1864, and Seale Hayne ensured this his DSPCo also took the ferry rights between Kingswear and Dartmouth. For the three years 1865-1867, the DSPCo also operated ferry services from Dartmouth and Plymouth to Jersey, Guernsey and St Malo, but these were not repeated subsequently.
In 1877, the DSPCo was reformed as the Dartmouth & Torbay SP Co (D&TSPCo), which built the 108ft iron paddle steamer
Berry Castle (1)
in Kingswear in 1880. She set the layout for all subsequent Dart paddler steamers except one.
Berry Castle (1)
was joined by
Dartmouth Castle (1)
from Harvey of Hayle in 1885, and these two paddlers, with some smaller screw steamers, were the mainstay of the fleet for the next decade. In 1894, a smaller 80ft flush-decked paddle steamer, the
Totnes Castle (1),
was built by Philip of Dartmouth. A fourth paddle steamer, the
Kingswear Castle (1)
, was added in 1904, the first of three steamers from Cox of Falmouth. In the same year, the name River Dart Steamboat Company (RDSBCo) was first used in advertising, although the company name was not officially changed until 1906.
Dartmouth Castle (1)
was replaced by the new Cox paddle steamer
Dartmouth Castle (2)
in 1907, the original being sold for further service in Ireland.
Totnes Castle (1)
was sold to Poole owners in 1912, to be replaced by the new
Compton Castle
in 1914, the last of three steamers from Cox of Falmouth.
Compton Castle
was the first of the Dart paddlers to have wide extended decks over elongated sponsons, which were later applied to the older
Dartmouth Castle (2)
.
Berry Castle (1)
was sold for breaking up in 1917, due to reduced service during the war, and she was replaced with the company's first motor vessel in 1922, the
Berry Castle (2)
, which lasted until 1947. In 1923 and 1924, two further near-copies of the 1914
Compton Castle
were delivered by Philip of Dartmouth, the
Totnes Castle (2)
and
Kingswear Castle (2)
. The latter used the engines from the
Kingswear Castle (1)
, which was then used as an isolation ship in Dartmouth Harbour. She was later burnt out as a safety precaution, and her remains are still visible near Totnes. A further new ship from Philips, delivered in 1926, was the 70ft motor vessel
Clifton Castle
, followed by the 60ft
Seymour Castle
in 1938, built by Ferris & Bank.
The four paddlers
Dartmouth Castle (2)
,
Compton Castle
,
Totnes Castle (2)
and
Kingswear Castle (2)
were the mainstay of service until the Second War, and
Totnes Castle (2)
even carried out a few cruises during the conflict. The
Dartmouth Castle (2)
was laid up during the war, and was sold in 1947, being replaced by the motor vessel
Dartmouth Castle (3)
in 1948. She was followed by the similar
Berry Castle (3)
the following year, both from Philip of Dartmouth. In 1952, the RDSBCo was acquired by the Wales-based Evans & Reid Investment Company (resulting in the bizarre choice of names of
Conway Castle
and
Cardiff Castle
for their last two new vessels in 1963/64). In 1961, a controlling interest in the Devon Star Shipping Co was acquired, which included a booking office at Torquay and the motor vessel
Torbay Prince
, which ran connecting services with the company's Dart vessels. The link was short-lived, since the shares were sold in 1964, although through-ticketing arrangements with
Torbay Prince
remained. The last three paddlers continued in service until
Compton Castle
failed to obtain a passenger certificate for 1963. She was not repaired, the
Conway Castle
having been acquired that year. It was the turn of
Totnes Castle (2)
to require major expenditure the following year. Again this was rejected and she was replaced by
Cardiff Castle
,
a sister to
Conway Castle
. The remaining paddle steamer,
Kingswear Castle (2)
, had received a new boiler and hull repairs in 1961, finished at the end of the 1965 season, having become uneconomic compared to the motor vessels. She was eventually sold to the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society, who restored her on the River Medway for a full return to service in 1985. RDSBCo revenues continued to decline, and in 1972,
Berry Castle (3)
and
Seymour Castle
were sold, although both eventually returned to the Diver Dart. The remaining excursion sailings were ceased after the 1974 season, thus ending over 100 years of River Dart service by the same company. The
Dartmouth Castle (3)
was sold to the
Millbrook Steamboat & Trading Company
in 1975, for use at Plymouth. The other two remaining vessels,
Cardiff Castle
and
Conway Castle
, were initially laid up. However, at the end of the 1976 season,
Dartmouth Castle (3)
was sold back to
Dart Pleasure Craft
, who effectively succeeded the RDSBCo.
Conway Castle
was sold for service at Upton-on-Severn, and
Cardiff Castle
replaced
Dartmouth Castle (3)
in the
Millbrook Steamboat & Trading Company
fleet. In 1980,
Dart Pleasure Craft
took over the
Millbrook Steamboat & Trading Company
and for five years boats were regularly swapped between the Dart and Plymouth fleets. However, in 1985,
Dart Pleasure Craft
pulled out of Plymouth, concentrating on their Dart operations.
Map of the River Dart from an RDSBCo brochure.
)
Ships on this Page (to be completed):-
Berry Castle (1)
- (1880-1917)
Berry Castle (2) - (1922-1947)
Berry Castle (3)
- (1949-1972) - 150 passengers
Cardiff Castle
- (1964-1977) - 400 passengers
Clifton Castle
- (1926-1942)
Compton Castle
- (1914-1964)
Conway Castle
- (1963-1977) - 400 passengers
Dartmouth Castle (1) - (1885-1907)
Dartmouth Castle (2)
- (1907-1947)
Dartmouth Castle (3)
- (1948-1975) - 250 passengers
Kingswear Castle (1)
- (1904-1924)
Kingswear Castle (2)
- (1924-1967)
Seymour Castle
- (1938-1973) - 100 passengers
Torbay Prince
- (1961-1964)
Totnes Castle (1) - (1894-1912)
Totnes Castle (2)
- (1923-1964)
Other Devon Pages:-
Devon Excursion Ships
- Devon Header Page
Devon Princess Cruises
Devon Star Shipping
Devon Dock, Pier & SS Co
Exe to Sea Ferries
J & M Rackley (operate Starcross ferry in 2007)
River Tamar - Millbrook SB Co
River Dart - Dart Pleasure Craft
River Dart - Ridalls
Western Lady Ferry Service
Kingswear Castle
- Preserved Dart paddle steamer now on the River Medway
Associated Pages:-
Monarch (3)
- Passenger carrying paddle steamer near Canterbury in Kent
Ferry Postcards
Cruise Ship Postcards
Ocean Liner Postcards
Simplon Postcards Home Page
References:-
Passenger Steamers of the River Dart
- Richard Clammer & Alan Kittridge - Twelveheads Press 1987
South Devon Ferries
- Alan Kittridge - Tempus (2003)
Trip Out Guides
- Written and published by G.P.Hamer - various editions from 1977 to 2009 consulted
Search This Website:-
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River Dart Fleet List
Photographic postcard of unidentified early paddle steamer at Greenaway Ferry
Click to open larger image in new window
Berry Castle (1)
(River Dart SB Co: 1880-1917)
Photographic postcard of the
Berry Castle (1)
Click to open larger image in new window
Art postcard of
Berry Castle (1)
at Totnes
Click to open larger image in new window
Kingswear Castle (1)
(River Dart SB Co: 1904-1924)
The fourth paddle steamer of the Dartmouth & Torbay SP Co (D&TSPCo), the
Kingswear Castle (1)
, was added in 1904, the first of three steamers from Cox of Falmouth. In the same year, the name River Dart Steamboat Company (RDSBCo) was first used in advertising, although the company name was not officially changed until 1906.
In 1923 and 1924, two further near-copies of the 1914
Compton Castle
were delivered by Philip of Dartmouth, the
Totnes Castle (2)
and
Kingswear Castle (2)
. The latter used the engines from the
Kingswear Castle (1)
, which was then used as an isolation ship in Dartmouth Harbour. She was later burnt out as a safety precaution, and her remains are still visible near Totnes.
Photographic postcard of the
Kingswear Castle (1)
of 1904, whose engines were used in
Kingswear Castle (2)
of 1924.
Photochrom postcard of
Kingswear Castle (1)
of 1904, at Totnes.
Click to open larger image in new window
The remains of
Kingswear Castle (1)
of 1904, near Totnes.
Photo: © John Hendy 2007
Click to open larger image in new window
Dartmouth Castle (2)
(River Dart SB Co: 1907-1947)
Dartmouth Castle (1)
was replaced by the new Cox paddle steamer
Dartmouth Castle (2)
in 1907, the original being sold for further service in Ireland. She was updated over years, receiving an enclosed wheelhouse, and extended wide decks over lengthened sponsons as introduced on the
Compton Castle
of 1914. The
Dartmouth Castle (2)
was laid up during the war, and was sold in 1947, being replaced by the motor vessel
Dartmouth Castle (3)
in 1948.
Paddle steamer
Dartmouth Castle (2)
off Dittisham.
Paddle steamer
Dartmouth Castle (2)
off Dittisham.
Click to open larger image in new window
Compton Castle
(River Dart SB Co: 1914-1964)
Totnes Castle (1)
was sold to Poole owners in 1912, to be replaced by the new
Compton Castle
of 1914, the last of three new steamers from Cox of Falmouth.
Compton Castle
was the first of the Dart paddlers to have wide extended decks over elongated sponsons, which were later applied to the older
Dartmouth Castle (2)
. The
Compton Castle
continued in service until she failed to obtain a passenger certificate for 1963. She was not repaired, the motor vessel
Conway Castle
having been acquired that year.
Compton Castle
was sold for use as a moored restaurant and museum in Kingsbridge, where she remained until 1978. She was then sold to owners in Looe, who towed her there for restoration, the intention being to return her to service on the Dart. This project ran into difficulties, and
Compton Castle
was sold again for conversion to a restaurant in Truro. The vessel was substantially modified, so that little sign of the original steamer remained.
Postcard of
Compton Castle
with open bridge (enclosed in the 1920s)
Click to open larger image in new window
River Dart Steamboat Company official postcard of
Compton Castle
.
Overland Views postcard 46/15 of the
Kingswear Castle
and
Compton Castle (right)
at the steamer quay Totnes.
Click to open larger image in new window
Overland Views postcard 46/14 of the
Compton Castle
against the quay (left), at the steamer quay Totnes.
Kingswear Castle (2)
is in the centre, whilst
Totnes Castle
is turning in the background.
Photograph of
Compton Castle
, at Kingsbridge in 1974.
Photo: © Terry Boyle.
NPO Dexter postcard B7031-53788C of
Compton Castle
, at Kingsbridge.
Salmon postcard 1-49-04-03 of
Compton Castle
, at Kingsbridge.
Photo Precision postcard PT1781 of
Compton Castle
, at Kingsbridge.
Photographic postcard of
Compton Castle
, at Kingsbridge.
Totnes Castle (2)
(River Dart SB Co: 1923-1964)
In 1923 and 1924, two further -near-copies of the 1914
Compton Castle
were delivered by Philip of Dartmouth, the
Totnes Castle (2)
and
Kingswear Castle (2)
.
River Dart Steamboat Company official postcard of
Totnes Castle (2)
.
River Dart Steamboat Company official postcard of
Totnes Castle (2)
.
Photochrom postcard 55363 of
Totnes Castle (2)
at Totnes.
Overland Views postcard 46/14, showing
Totnes Castle
turning in the background.
Compton Castle
is against the quay (left), whilst
Kingswear Castle (2)
is in the centre.
Photographic postcard of
Totnes Castle (2)
.
Kingswear Castle (2)
(River Dart SB Co: 1924-1967)
In 1923 and 1924, two further near-copies of the 1914
Compton Castle
were delivered by Philip of Dartmouth, the
Totnes Castle (2)
and
Kingswear Castle (2)
. The latter used the engines from the
Kingswear Castle (1)
, which was then used as an isolation ship in Dartmouth Harbour.
Complete history of
Kingswear Castle
Valentine's postcard 208903 of the
Kingswear Castle (2)
of 1924, at Totnes Landing Stage.
Valentine's postcard 208904 of the
Kingswear Castle (2)
Click to open larger image in new window
Valentine's postcard 208904 of the
Kingswear Castle (2)
This is a variation on the card above. The trees have been given extra foliage and the lower left bank has been 'tidied up'
Click to open larger image in new window
Overland Views postcard 46/15 of the
Kingswear Castle
and
Compton Castle (right)
at the steamer quay Totnes.
Click to open larger image in new window
Overland Views postcard 46/14 of the
Kingswear Castle (2)
, centre, at the steamer quay Totnes.
Compton Castle
is against the quay, whilst
Totnes Castle
is turning in the background.