An original large-format vintage photograph (image size 145 × 303 mm) of this famous cross-Channel English paddle steamer, 'easily the most popular excursion ship in the country'

[Paddle Steamer 'La Marguerite']

About this Item

The photograph is on the original mount, with the title, a fancy border, and the photographer's details printed in silver ('F.C. Gould & Son, Photos. 10, Harmer Street, Gravesend'). The high-gloss sepia-toned plate is in fine condition; the mount has a few minor surface blemishes and some discolouration; the overall impression is very agreeable. '"La Marguerite" was built, and owned, by the Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company of Govan, one of three vessels delivered to separate companies over the three years 1892-1894, which formed the finest fleet of excursion ships on the River Thames, managed by the Victoria Steamboat Association (VSA). The third steamer of the trio, "La Marguerite", was delivered in 1894 to Palace Steamers, but mortgaged to and operated by the VSA like the others. She was really a cross channel steamer, being 2205 gross tons and 330 feet in length. After the 1894 season, the Victoria Steamboat Association was unable to pay its instalments, and Fairfields foreclosed and took possession of their three steamers. A new company was formed, New Palace Steamers, and the services were operated much as before. The funnels of all three ships were then painted buff. "La Marguerite" sailed for ten years, Saturday to Thursday, from Tilbury (reached by train from London) to Margate and Boulogne. In 1897, another Fairfield-owned steamer, "La Belgique", was added to the fleet on charter. She sailed from Tilbury to Ostend, but was probably too slow, and the charter was not continued. However, "La Marguerite" began to sail to Ostend on two days a week from 1898, and also added Calais as a destination. Although easily the most popular excursion ship in the country, "La Marguerite" was not profitable and was moved in 1904 to the Liverpool & North Wales Steamship Company, another company with extensive Fairfield involvement' (information from 'Simplon, the Passenger Ship website'). The numerous illustrations - all of postcards - of this vessel on that website do not include the image we have for sale, nor have we identified it in the usual pictorial archives online.

Seller Inventory # 110198

Bibliographic Details

• Title: An original large-format vintage photograph (image size 145 × 303 mm) of this famous cross-Channel English paddle steamer, 'easily the most popular excursion ship in the country'
• Seller catalogs:
  • Photography
  • Original Photographs
  • British Isles
  • Maritime