Penarth Dock, South Wales - the heritage and legacy

Volume Eight - Pre-Victorian to the present day - more aspects - The White Funnel Fleet - P & A Campbell Limited

The 'Glen Usk' of 1914, the old lady of the fleet, as described within the pages of the 'White Funnel Handbook'. [001] [307]

A postcard of the 'Glen Usk' from the Penarth Dock Collection. I had the privilege of sailing this wonderful old lady of the fleet, I think, a day trip to Weston-super-Mare and back from Penarth some time around 1957 - 1958. She was taken out of service in 1963 after serving our country in both world wars - if only she had been preserved. [001]

The paddle steamer 'Glen Usk' approaching Clevedon Pier in 1954. The postcard is from the Penarth Dock Collection and is a Simplon Postcard. Just look at those muddy waters of the Bristol Channel - lovely! [001]

Paddle Steamer 'Glen Usk' of the White Funnel Fleet of P. & A. Campbell, built 1914 - A Harold Jordan Postcard featuring the old lady in a photograph credited to Geoffrey Grimshaw. Another fine paddle steamer postcard from the Penarth Dock Collection. The photo is most probably taken as she departs Penarth Pier on a hazy day with the islands of Flat Holm and Steep Holm ahead. [001]

The P.S. 'Glen Usk' of 1914 on her namesake river departing Davis Wharf, Newport, Gwent en route to the Severn Sea and Bristol Channel. The date is not known, but is probably during the 1950's or early 1960's. She was scrapped in 1963 - a charming old lady indeed. I remember smiling as I looked down from her deck into the stokehold and talking to the pair of sweaty, black-bright stokers ; one got a bit shirty with me and said 'now bugger off lad' as they went back to shoveling coal into her bright luminous belly! [530]

P.S. 'Glen Usk' - A photograph from the early to mid-1950's of her on an excursion in the Bristol Channel on a typically dismal day. Show me the way to the bar please! She ended her service days in 1956 but didn't meet the ship-breakers oxy-acetylene torches until 1963. Another from the Penarth Dock Collection. [001] [20170914]

1934 - P.S. 'Glen Usk' - Built by the Ailsa Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., Troon.

P.S. 'Glen Usk' - Built by the Ailsa Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., Troon. Length (over all) 231 ft. 6 in. Breath 28 ft. Depth 16 ft. 6 in. Fitted with Marconi Wireless Installation. An illustration taken from the Bristol Channel District Guide - Official Handbook to the Marine Trips of P. & A. Campbell Ltd. (The White Funnel Fleet) - first published 1893 - from the 1934 Edition. [1332]

"Glen Usk" at Weston-Super-Mare - Two postcard views borrowed from the TuckDB website archive. These photographs formed the 'Letter side of fold out stationary with space on the back to write a letter and six views on the front. Folds concertina style into an envelope for posting.' - The lower image above is of her moored at Birnbeck Pier. [1258]