Windsor Belle | National Historic Ships

Registration number 82

Status Registered

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Details

Function Leisure Craft

Subfunction Launch

Location Wargrave

Vessel type Launch - Saloon

Current use Commercial Activity

Available to hire Yes

Available for excursions No

Construction

Builder Burgoine, Edward, A Jacobs, Windsor

Built in 1901

Hull material Wood

Rig None

Number of decks 1

Propulsion Steam

Number of engines 1

Primary engine type Steam compound

Boiler type Drum Water Tube

Boilermaker Philip & Son, Dartmouth

Boiler year 1920

Dimensions

Breadth: Beam

11.51 feet (3.51m)

Length: Overall

59.48 feet (18.14m)

Tonnage: Gross

23.00

History

Built in 1901 by Edward Burgoine of Windsor for A Jacobs, WINDSOR BELLE is a steam powered tripper boat. Her hull is wooden, of carvel construction and the steam compound engine was built by Plenty & Son. This was converted to motor drive in 1950, but restored in 1986 to steam power. As a passenger launch, she has been operated at various places on the River Thames, most recently at Wargrave running charter trips.

Update, May 2025: Believed under new ownership.

Key dates

1901
Built as a steam powered trip boat by Edward Burgoine at A. Jacob's Yard, Windsor
1950
Steam plant removed and converted to motor powered
1986
Fully restored to original configuration and steam plant fittted
1989
Operating as passenger launch out of Hurley on River Thames
1996
Whereabouts unknown but thought to be inactive

Sources

Brouwer, Norman J, International Register of Historic Ships, Anthony Nelson, Edition 2, 1993
Steamboat Register: An illustrated Register of surviving steam vessels in the British Isles, Steam Boat Association of Great Britain, Edition 6, May 1994
Hamer, Geoffrey, Trip Out 1995/6 - A Guide to the Passenger Boat Services of the British Isles, G P Hamer, 1995