QUEEN OF THE ISLES 1853-
Owner A. W. Bean & T. Jackson
Builder Thomas Toward, St. Peters Quay, Newcastle. November 12 1853
Tonnage 1853 81 burthen tons
1857 142gr 76net
Dimensions 1853 110.5(rl) 16.8 10.0
1857 126.5(rl) 18.2 9.0
Propulsion Paddles, SR, 2cyl 34" 34" -
Engines from factory of Mr. J.P. Almond of North Shields, 70 H.P. Paddle wheels 17 ’ dia.
The vessel was built in 1853 for Alfred William Bean and Thomas Jackson both of Kent the contractors for the British Government’s Alderney Harbour project
QUEEN OF THE ISLES was registered in Guernsey on December 31 1853 and maintained a link between Alderney and Guernsey during the construction period.
The ships figurehead was of Queen Victoria with the paddle boxes being adorned with a Crown and the Guernsey Arms.
The ladies cabin had eleven berths, whilst the gents cabin provided fourteen berths Accommodation Ladies cabin has 11 berths, gents has 14 berths.
The ship arrived in St Peter Port from Alderney for the first trip on November 21 1853, but only three years later she proceeded on December 2 1856 to London for alterations which included lengthening and increased power, returning to Guernsey on April 8 1857.
The vessel not only provided a service for the builders of the breakwaters but also was the lifeline for the Island, thus when work on the breakwaters ceased in 1870, the contractors gradually withdrew, and although undergoing an extensive overhaul early in 1870 she was not required by her owners, and on April 6 1872 the ship was advertised for sale in the Guernsey Star.
Sold to Mr. William Walker, she left Guernsey on July 23 1872 for London via Alderney.
In 1879 the ship was sold to T. Redhead and R. Oldfield and the vessel converted into a twin screw steamer by R. Smith at Preston.
By 1881 Thomas Redhead was the sole owner, and by 1887 she had passed to G. J. Par, and then in 1888 the vessel still named QUEEN OF THE ISLES was sold to Griffith Jones & Tomas Roberts of Conway, and she was registered at Beaumaris on November 18 that year.
In 1891 T. Roberts was given as the sole owner, and he remained so until September 15 1889, when the vessel, bound for Garston, went down off Bahama Lightship owing to a shaft snapping, her crew were saved.
Picture :
QUEEN OF THE ISLES 003 118k
Picture : Jersey Heritage Trust collection
A sketch by P. J. Ouless dated June 25 1858.