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 first paddle steamer named 'Lady Margaret'. Built in 1885 by McMillon of Dumbarton for the Lady Margaret Steamship Co. of Cardiff whom promptly went bust and was swiftly purchased by Campbell's in March 1896. [154]

However, there is a newspaper report in the Penarth Chronicle and District Advertiser of August 1895 which states 'As the passenger steamer 'Lady Margaret', Messrs. Edwards, Robertson, and Company's new boat . . . ' so the Lady Margaret Steamship Co. was perhaps a subsidiary of Edwards, Robertson and Co. Does anyone know the answer please?

A posed view of perhaps directors and/or shareholders of Messrs. Edwards, Robertson, and Company's new boat taken during June 1885!

The second paddle steamer named 'Lady Margaret' - At the commencement of the 1888/9 season the boiler on the first 'Lady Margaret' had failed an inspection by the Board of Trade Inspector at Bute Docks, Cardiff, and faced with a reduced maximum permissible operating pressure and resultant reduction in speed it was decided to sell the vessel to the Medway Steam Packet Company. Edwards, Roberston & Company had purchased the p.s. 'Carrick Castle' the previous year and it was subsequently renamed 'Lady Margaret'. Many thanks to Chris Collard and his fine book 'P & A Campbell Steamers - The Victorian Era' for the information and image above. [1291]

1901 - p.s. 'Lady Margaret' cruising off Penarth in P. & A. Campbell's livery in this painting by Fred Childs. Borrowed from the book 'Penarth - The garden by the sea' [1360] the text of which states: 'This ship was built in 1895 for a company consisting largely of the Directors of the Pier Company although it was managed by Edwards and Robertson of Cardiff. At the end of the 1895 season, Edwards and Robertson sold their own vessels to John Gurn of Cardiff and the Lady Margaret was sold to P. & A. Campbell Ltd.'