The Story of the Paddle Steamer

Paddle steamers were graceful, elegant ships, but in the jet-age too slow and uneconomical. In the 1950s they went to the breaker's yards in droves. This text tells the story of the paddle steamers, and of the men who built, owned and sailed them.

---

The paddle steamer holds a unique place in the history of maritime engineering. When the engineers of the early 19th century experimented with steamboats they chose the paddle wheel as the form of propulsion. Within 20 years the paddle steamers were at work on inland waters and short sea passages. The first ocean-going steamships were paddlers. They were the link between sail and screw, a role they performed for nearly 60 years. But in shallow waters they prevailed for over 150 years. Plying between the seaside piers and along the major rivers they were as familiar to holidaymakers as Punch and Judy shows and donkey rides. The deep-sea sailors called them "Butterfy boats", but they were by no means as frail as the name suggested. In the two world wars they served alongside the warships of the Royal Navy and had their finest hour during the Dunkirk evacuation. They were graceful, elegant ships, but in the jet-age too slow and uneconomical. In the 1950s they went to the breaker's yards in droves, and now there are only a few left. This text tells the story of the paddle steamers, and of the men who built, owned and sailed them.