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This website has no connection with any shipping company, cruise line, boat operator or other commercial organisation
Campion Launches
Viscount Cruises
This page is devoted to the Thames excusion boat operators Campion Launches, in 2007 named Viscount Cruises.
This is one a of series of
Simplon Postcards
pages devoted to
River Thames Excursion Boats
.
Campion Launches are based at Greenwich, and previously operated services from Greenwich to the Thames Barrier. Since 2002, the services have run from Westminster to Greenwich and the Thames Barrier under the
Thames River Services
banner with the
George Wheeler
fleet of
Chay Blyth
,
Hollywood
and
Rosewood
, plus
Mercia
of
Westminster Party Boats
and
Sarpedon
of
Crown River Cruises
.
Rosewood
was sold in 2007, being replaced on Greenwich services by
Avontuur IV
. For information on Greenwich services see:-
www.thamesriverservices.co.uk
Contact:
www.viscountcruises.com
Ships on this Page:-
Avontuur IV
- (2006- )
London Belle
- (1987-2003) - built: 1948
Viscount
- (1995-2006) - built: 1908
London Rose
- (2002- ) - built: 1977
Associated Thames Passenger Boat Pages:-
River Thames Excursion Boats
- Thames Header Page - Full List of Companies
Thames River Services
Campion Launches
Crown River Cruises
Viscount Cruises
Westminster Party Boats
George Wheeler
Associated Pages:-
UK Excursion Ships
Ferry Postcards
Cruise Ship Postcards
Ocean Liner Postcards
Simplon Postcards
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Recent Updates
Simplon Postcards
-
Home Page
References:-
Royal River Highway:
Written by Frank L. Dix - published David & Charles 1984
Trip Out Guides
-
Written and published by G.P.Hamer - various editions from 1977 to 2005 consulted
Trip Out Guides are available from Geoffrey Hamer, PO Box 485, Southall, UB1 9BH
Search This Website:-
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Table of Individual Boat Pages
Name
Other names
Built
Viscount
1908
Campion Launches
Campion Launches are based at Greenwich, and previously operated services from Greenwich to the Thames Barrier. Since 2002, the services have run from Westminster to Greenwich and the Thames Barrier.
London Belle
(Campion Launches: 1987-2003 - built: 1948)
London Belle
was built by Rowhedge Iron Works in 1948 for Alfred Crouch. 65 feet long and diesel-powered with twin-screw, she was re-engined and converted to a single screw in 1972. In 1980 she passed to
George Wheeler Launches
, and c.1987 to Campion Launches. In 2003 she was sold to
London Party Boats
(
www.londonpartyboats.co.uk
) and is their sole vessel in 2006.
London Belle
of London Party Boats (
www.londonpartyboats.co.uk
)
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 14th June 2006.
Click to open larger window in a new window
Viscount
(Campion Launches - built: 1908)
In 1908,
Joseph Mears
bought the first of nine large launches built for him by
Salter Brothers
, the
Viscount
of 106ft and 395 passengers. She was one of the largest launches of the middle Thames when built.
Viscount
passed to
Thames Launches
with the rest of the
Mears
fleet in 1947, and ran for Thompsons Launches from 1971 until 1991. After three seasons laid up, she passed to Campion Launches. In 2006
Viscount
passed to
Ed Langley
and runs with
Henley
as
Complete Pleasure Boats
.
The complete list of
Salters
boats built for Mears were the
Viscount
(1908),
Connaught
(1911),
Royalty
(1913),
Hurlingham
(1915),
Kingwood
(1915),
Marchioness
(1923),
Queen Elizabeth (3)
(1924),
Abercorn
(1925) and
Viscountess
(1926). All remain in service in 2006, except the
Marchioness
which was lost in an accident in 1989, and
Abercorn
which suffered a major fire in 2005 whilst at her moorings.
More images of
Viscount
Viscount
at Canary Wharf in Campion Launches service
Scan:
www.riverthames.co.nr
Viscount
at Westminster in
Complete Pleasure Boats
colours
More images of
Viscount
with Complete Pleasure Boats
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 24th June 2006
Click to open larger image in new window
London Rose
(Campion Launches - built: 1977)
115ft long - 247 passengers
London Rose
was built as the German
La Visurgis
, and was bought in 2002.
London Rose
of
Campion Launches
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 31st March 2006
Click to open larger image in new window
London Rose
by Tower Bridge
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 26th May 2003.
London Rose
at Westminster
Photoh: © Ian Boyle, 7th April 2005.
London Rose
at Westminster, with
Suerita
Photoh: © Ian Boyle, 7th April 2005.
London Rose
at St Catherine's Pier
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 13th April 2007
Click to open larger image in new window
London Rose
at St Catherine's Pier
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 13th April 2007
Click to open larger image in new window
London Rose
at St Catherine's Pier
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 13th April 2007
Click to open larger image in new window
London Rose
at Westminster
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 3rd May 2007
Click to open larger image in new window
Avontuur IV
(Viscount Cruises: 2006- )
Avontuur IV
at Blackfriars Bridge
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 24th June 2006
Click to open larger image in new window
Avontuur IV
at Blackfriars Bridge
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 24th June 2006
Click to open larger image in new window
Avontuur IV
at Blackfriars Bridge
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 24th June 2006
Click to open larger image in new window
Avontuur IV
passing the Hays Galleria
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 24th June 2006
Click to open larger image in new window
Avontuur IV
passing the City
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 13th April 2007
Click to open larger image in new window
Avontuur IV
passing Tower Pier
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 13th April 2007
Click to open larger image in new window
Avontuur IV
by Tower Bridge
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 13th April 2007
Click to open larger image in new window
Avontuur IV
by Tower Bridge
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 13th April 2007
Click to open larger image in new window
Avontuur IV
by Tower Bridge
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 13th April 2007
Click to open larger image in new window
Avontuur IV
at Westminster
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 3rd May 2007
Click to open larger image in new window
Avontuur IV
at Westminster Pier
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 3rd May 2007
Click to open larger image in new window
Avontuur IV
at the Golden Jubilee Bridge (previously Hungerford Bridge)
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 3rd May 2007
Click to open larger image in new window
River Thames Header Page
UK Excursion Ships
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