Kingwood | National Historic Ships

Registration number 264

Status Archived

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KINGWOOD on Thames outside House of Parliament. Port side.

Details

Function Passenger Vessel

Subfunction Excursion

Location NONE

Vessel type Excursion

Archive reason Disposed

Current use None

Available to hire No

Available for excursions No

Construction

Builder Salter Brothers Ltd, Oxford

Built in 1915

Hull material Steel

Rig None

Number of decks 1

Propulsion Motor

Number of engines 1

Primary engine type Diesel

Boiler type None

Boilermaker None

Dimensions

Breadth: Beam

16.98 feet (5.18m)

Depth

2.59 feet (0.79m)

Length: Overall

100.92 feet (30.78m)

Tonnage: Gross

71.00

History

Built in 1915 by Salter Bros, Oxford, KINGWOOD was a passenger vessel with a capacity for 150 passengers. She had a riveted steel hull and operated on the Thames prior to World War II under the ownership of Alf Mears. During the war she saw service at Dunkirk. She was sold to Thames Launches of Eel Pie Island in 1945 and converted from steam to diesel in 1948. Following the disposal of the Thames Launches fleet in 1974/75 she was purchased by G Wheeler Launches of Westminster. Her final owner was King Cruises which took over her operation in 1986. She operated a service between Westminster and Kew/Hampton Court for many years.

KINGWOOD was reported broken up in June 2024.

Sources

Brann, Christian, The Little Ships of Dunkirk: 1940-1990, Collectors Books Ltd, 1989
Hamer, Geoffrey, Trip Out 1995/6 - A Guide to the Passenger Boat Services of the British Isles, G P Hamer, 1995