Devon Dock, Pier & SS Co - Paddle Steamer Postcards

This page is devoted to postcards and photographs of the Devon Dock, Pier & SS Company which ran two coastal paddle steamers between the 1890s and 1930s. They also owned the piers at Exmouth and Teignmouth, Exmouth Docks and ran the Exmouth-Starcross and Torquay-Brixham ferries. An alphabetical list of ships covered on this page is shown below. Below this are postcards and photos of the fleet in chronological order.
Coastal Steamers
The two paddle steamers Duchess of Devonshire and Duke of Devonshire were built for the Devon SS Co in 1891 and 1896. Due to the lack of suitable piers on the exposed Devon coast, they were designed to run up on the beach and unload passengers via a wooden gangway hinged from the bow. They passed to the newly formed Devon Dock, Pier and Steamship Co in 1898.
Torbay Ferry
Steam ferries were used between Torquay and Brixham across Torbay in 19th Century. These included the Kiwi and Pioneer run by William Mellor. In 1901 the Devon Dock, Pier and Steamship Co took delivery of the twin-screw steamer King Edward from Philip's of Dartmouth. She was joined a year later by the Southampton passenger tug Lord Kitchener which was renamed Countess of Devon. The Devon Dock, Pier and Steamship Co ceased their Torbay service at the end of 1930 season and King Edward was sold to the Dartmouth Steam Navigation who ran a single ferry trip to Brixham in the morning, followed by trips to Dittisham or Teignmouth from Torquay's Princess Pier. The regular ferry service was restarted after the war by the Western Lady Ferry Service.
Exmouth-Starcross Ferry
The Starcross Ferry is one of the oldest in South West England. The Bishop of Sherborne was granted lands in Exmouth in AD 705, and subsequently he started a ferry to Starcross. The first steam ferry used on the route was the Melita (1), a converted sailing drifter, which was operated in the 1880s by a Finnish sailor called Gronberg. A paddle steamer Pioneer was not successful and soon withdrawn. In 1891, the Exmouth & Great Western Ferry Co, a subsidiary of the Exmouth Dock Co, was granted ferry rights. They had the ferry Prince built by Simpson & Strickland of Dartmouth. She was followed by the similar Zulu and Melita (2). In 1898 the newly formed Devon Dock, Pier and Steamship Co acquired the Exmouth & Great Western Ferry Co, the Exmouth Dock and Ironworks and the two paddle steamers Duchess of Devonshire and Duke of Devonshire of the Devon SS Co. Ferry Zulu was lengthened after the war c.1920. All three vessels were locally built and wooden hulled.
In 1923 the Devon Dock, Pier and Steamship Co acquired a fourth steamer, the steel-hulled Starcross. The Prince was withdrawn soon after her arrival, followed by Melita (2) in the early 1930s. The first motor boat arrived in 1933 when the Tamar Queen was delivered, a largely open vessel with a small fore-cabin. She was re-engined with a diesel engine the following year. This was very successful, and Diesel Comet was soon ordered to follow, although in other respects she was similar to previous Starcross ferries. She replaced the Zulu in service. Starcross was requisitioned in WW2, whilst Tamar Queen (renamed Tamar) and Diesel Comet maintained the ferry. Starcross was replaced by the Exonia (1) in 1947, which had Hotchkiss internal cone propellors which gave her a very low draft. Tamar was replaced by the Orcombe in 1954, which reverted to conventional twin screws. From 1966 the ferry service became summer-only. Diesel Comet was sold in 1972 and Exonia (1) followed the following year. A modern fibreglass boat Exonia (2) joined Orcombe in 1976.
R.W.Rackley was operating the Elizabeth III from Dawlish by 1977. A.Stuart was operating the Sea Crest from Exmouth by this year too. In 1983, A.Stuart took over the Starcross ferry along with Exonia (2) and Orcombe. In 1987, B.R.J.Rackley took over the ferry, along with the Orcombe. Exonia (2) remained with A.Stuart. Elizabeth III passed from R.W.Rackley to B.R.J.Rackley in 1995. Northern Angler and Tudor Rose (ex-Tudor Princess) joined Exonia (2) in the A.Stuart fleet (by then Stuart Line Cruises). By 1999, Exonia (2) had passed to D&P Faithfull of Portsmouth, for use on Portsmouth Harbour Tours. Princess Marina joined the B.R.J.Rackley fleet in 2000, followed by My Queen of Riddalls Boats (Dartmouth) in 2002. The the B.R.J.Rackley fleet passed to J & M Rackley in 2005.

The ex-Devon Dock, Pier and Steamship Co Orcombe remained on the ferry with J & M Rackley (Exe to Sea Ferries) in 2007, along with Elizabeth III, My Queen and Princess Marina.


Sections on This Page:-
Coastal Steamers
Torbay Ferries
Starcross Ferry
Starcross Ferry Publicity

Ships on This Page:-
Duchess of Devonshire - 1892-1934
Duke of Devonshire - 1896-1933

Countess of Devon - Torbay Ferry: 1902-1926 - ex: Lord Kitchener
Lord Kitchener - Torbay Ferry: 1902-1926 - renamed: Countess of Devon
King Edward - Torbay Ferry: 1901-1930

Diesel Comet - Starcross Ferry: 1934-1972
Exonia (1) - Starcross Ferry: 1947-1973
Exonia (2) - Starcross Ferry: 1976-19??
Melita (2) - Starcross Ferry: 1891-c.1923
Orcombe - Starcross Ferry: 1954-
Prince - Starcross Ferry: 1891-c.1923
Starcross - Starcross Ferry: 1923-1947
Tamar - Starcross Ferry: 1933-1954 - ex: Tamar Queen
Tamar Queen - Starcross Ferry: 1933-1954 - later: Tamar
Zulu - Starcross Ferry: c.1900-1934

Devon Pages:-
Devon Excursion Ships - Devon Header Page
Devon Princess Cruises
Devon Star Shipping
Exe to Sea Ferries J & M Rackley (operate Starcross ferry in 2007)
River Dart - Dart Pleasure Craft
River Dart - Riddalls
River Dart SB Co
Western Lady Ferry Service

Associated Pages:-
UK Excursion Ships - UK Header Page
Cosens & Co
Red Funnel - Paddlesteamers
Ferry Postcards
Simplon Postcards Home Page
- Simplon Postcards facebook page
References:-
Estuary & River Ferries of South West England - Martin Langley & Edwina Small - Waine Research (1984)
Excursion Ships & Ferries - John S.Styring - Ian Allen (1958)
South Devon Ferries - Alan Kittridge - Tempus (2003)
The Fair Few Miles - History of the Western lady Ferry Service - S.A.Armstrong - unknown publisher
Trip Out Guides - Written and published by G.P.Hamer - various editions from 1977 to 2007 consulted

My thanks to Graham Thorne for assistence with this page

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powered by FreeFind Devon Dock, Pier & SS Co Coastal Steamers Duchess of Devonshire
(1892-1934)
Duchess of Devonshire was built by R&H Green in London in 1892. She was 170 ft long and 221 gross tons, powered by a two-cylinder compound diagonal engine. She was designed to run up on the beach to load/unload passengers. Duchess of Devonshire was laid up in 1930, and sold in 1934 to the Devon & West Bay SS Co, but was wrecked on Sidmouth beach in August of the same year. Arrival of paddle steamer at Exmouth Pier.
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Departure of paddle steamer from Exmouth.
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Departure of paddle steamer from Oddicombe Beach, near Torquay.
Arrival of paddle steamer at Budleigh Salterton beach.
Real photographic postcard.
Duke of Devonshire
(1896-1933)

The Duke of Devonshire of 1896 was a slightly larger repeat of Duchess of Devonshire, and was also was built by R&H Green in London. She was 175 ft long and 257 gross tons, powered by a two-cylinder compound diagonal engine. She was designed to run up on the beach to load/unload passengers. Duke of Devonshire was sold to P.& A.Campbell in 1933, but was not used by them. They resold her to J.Dwyer of Cork. In 1936 she was bought by Alexander Taylor of Torquay, who ran her out of Torquay for two seasons. He resold her to Cosens & Co in 1938, who renamed her Consul. She served with Cosens & Co until 1963. Complete history of Duke of Devonshire Arrival of paddle steamer at Torquay.
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Departure of paddle steamer from Exmouth.
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Departure of paddle steamer from Teignmouth.
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Arrival of paddle steamer at Blackpool Sands.
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Arrival of paddle steamer at Sidmouth beach.
Real photographic postcard.
Duke of Devonshire when owned by Alexander Taylor of Torquay.
Taylor ran her out of Torquay for two seasons from 1936.
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Duke of Devonshire off Kingswear
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Torbay Ferries King Edward
(1901-1930)

The Devon Dock, Pier & SS Co also ran the Torbay ferry until 1930, using the twin-screw steam ferry King Edward, built in 1901 by Philips of Dartmouth. From 1902 her running partner was the passenger tug Lord Kitchener from Southampton, later renamed Countess of Devon. The Devon Dock, Pier and Steamship Co ceased their Torbay service at the end of 1930 season and King Edward was sold to the Dartmouth Steam Navigation who ran a single ferry trip to Brixham in the morning, followed by trips to Dittisham or Teignmouth from Torquay's Princess Pier. The regular ferry service was restarted after the war by the Western Lady Ferry Service. Postcard of King Edward
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Lord Kitchener - Countess of Devon
(1902-1926)

The Southampton passenger tug Lord Kitchener joined the King Edward on the Torbay ferry in 1902. She was later renamed Countess of Devon. She was sold in 1926. Photographic card of Lord Kitchener
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Postcard of Countess of Devon, ex-Lord Kitchener at Brixham
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Starcross Ferry Prince
(1891-c.1923)

In 1891, the Exmouth & Great Western Ferry Co, a subsidiary of the Exmouth Dock Co, was granted ferry rights. They had the ferry Prince built by Simpson & Strickland of Dartmouth. She was followed by the similar Zulu and Melita (2). In 1898 the newly formed Devon Dock, Pier and Steamship Co acquired the Exmouth & Great Western Ferry Co, the Exmouth Dock and Ironworks and the two paddles steamers of the Devon SS Co. Zulu was lengthened after the war c.1920. All three vessels were locally built and wooden hulled. In 1923 the company acquired a fourth steel-hulled steamer, the Starcross. The Prince was withdrawn soon after her arrival., followed by Melita (2) in the early 1930s. Prince at Exmouth
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Starcross, Melita and Prince (left-right) at Exmouth
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Melita (2)
(1891-c.1923)

In 1891, the Exmouth & Great Western Ferry Co, a subsidiary of the Exmouth Dock Co, was granted ferry rights. They had the ferry Prince built by Simpson & Strickland of Dartmouth. She was followed by the similar Zulu and Melita (2). In 1898 the newly formed Devon Dock, Pier and Steamship Co acquired the Exmouth & Great Western Ferry Co, the Exmouth Dock and Ironworks and the two paddles steamers of the Devon SS Co. Zulu was lengthened after the war c.1920. All three vessels were locally built and wooden hulled. In 1923 the company acquired a fourth steel-hulled steamer, the Starcross. The Prince was withdrawn soon after her arrival., followed by Melita (2) in the early 1930s. Starcross, Melita and Prince (left-right) at Exmouth
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Zulu
(c1900-1934)

In 1891, the Exmouth & Great Western Ferry Co, a subsidiary of the Exmouth Dock Co, was granted ferry rights. They had the ferry Prince built by Simpson & Strickland of Dartmouth. She was followed by the similar Zulu and Melita (2). In 1898 the newly formed Devon Dock, Pier and Steamship Co acquired the Exmouth & Great Western Ferry Co, the Exmouth Dock and Ironworks and the two paddles steamers of the Devon SS Co. Zulu was lengthened after the war c.1920. All three vessels were locally built and wooden hulled. The first motor boat arrived in 1933 when the Tamar Queen arrived, a largely open vessel with a small fore-cabin. She was re-engined with a diesel engine the following year. This was very successful, and Diesel Comet soon arrived, although in other respects she was similar to previous Starcross ferries.She replaced the Zulu in service.

No image available Starcross
(1923-1947)

In 1923 the company acquired a fourth steamer, the steel-hulled Starcross. The Prince was withdrawn soon after her arrival., followed by Melita (2) in the early 1930s. Starcross was requisitioned in WW2, whilst Tamar Queen (renamed Tamar) and Diesel Comet maintained the ferry. Starcross was replaced by the Exonia (1) in 1947, Starcross, Melita and Prince (left-right) at Exmouth
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Passengers on Starcross
Scan: Kenneth Lea
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Tamar Queen - Tamar
(1933-54)

The first motor boat arrived in 1933 when the Tamar Queen was delivered, a largely open vessel with a small fore-cabin. She was re-engined with a diesel engine the following year. This was very successful, and Diesel Comet soon arrived, although in other respects she was similar to previous Starcross ferries.She replaced the Zulu in service. Starcross was requisitioned in WW2, whilst Tamar Queen (renamed Tamar) and Diesel Comet maintained the ferry. Tamar was replaced by the Orcombe in 1954, which reverted to conventional twin screws. Starcross, Melita and Prince (left-right) at Exmouth
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Diesel Comet
(1934-1972)

The first motor boat arrived in 1933 when the Tamar Queen was delivered, a largely open vessel with a small fore-cabin. She was re-engined with a diesel engine the following year. This was very successful, and Diesel Comet soon arrived, although in other respects she was similar to previous Starcross ferries.She replaced the Zulu in service. Starcross was requisitioned in WW2, whilst Tamar Queen (renamed Tamar) and Diesel Comet maintained the ferry. Starcross was replaced by the Exonia (1) in 1947, which had Hotchkiss internal cone propellors which gave her a very low draft. Tamar was replaced by the Orcombe in 1954, which reverted to conventional twin screws. From 1968 the ferry service became summer-only. Diesel Comet was sold in 1972 and Exonia (1) followed the following year. Diesel Comet at Exmouth
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Diesel Comet at Exmouth, with Devon Princess of Devon Princess Cruises
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Diesel Comet at Exmouth
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Exonia (1)
(1947-1973)

Starcross was replaced by the Exonia (1) in 1947, which had Hotchkiss internal cone propellors which gave her a very low draft. Tamar was replaced by the Orcombe in 1954, which reverted to conventional twin screws. From 1968 the ferry service became summer-only. Diesel Comet was sold in 1972 and Exonia (1) followed the following year.

No image available Orcombe
(1954- )

Tamar was replaced by the Orcombe in 1954, which reverted to conventional twin screws. From 1968 the ferry service became summer-only. Diesel Comet was sold in 1972 and Exonia (1) followed the following year. A modern fibreglass boat Exonia (2) joined Orcombe in 1976. In 1983, A.Stuart took over the Starcross ferry along with Exonia (2) and Orcombe. In 1987, B.R.J.Rackley took over the ferry, along with the Orcombe. Exonia (2) remained with A.Stuart.

The ex-Devon Dock, Pier and Steamship Co Orcombe remained on the ferry with J & M Rackley (Exe to Sea Ferries) in 2007, along with Elizabeth III, My Queen and Princess Marina. J.Salmon postcard of Orcombe on the Starcross ferry
Photo: © John Hendy, August 2007
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Judges postcard of Orcombe on the Starcross ferry
Photo: © John Hendy, August 2007
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Orcombe on the Starcross ferry in 2007
Photo: © John Hendy, August 2007
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Exonia (2)
(1976- )

The modern fibreglass boat Exonia (2) joined Orcombe in 1976. In 1983, A.Stuart took over the Starcross ferry along with Exonia (2) and Orcombe. In 1987, B.B.J.Rackley took over the ferry from A.Stuart, along with the Orcombe. Exonia (2) remained with A.Stuart. By 1999, Exonia (2) had passed to D&P Faithfull of Portsmouth, for use on Portsmouth Harbour Tours. In 2010 Exonia (2) began operations with Coniston Launch as the Campbell. Exonia on the Portsmouth water bus in 1997
Photo: © Terry Creswell, 15th August 1997
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Exonia on waterbus duty during the Portsmouth Festival of the Sea.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 2nd July 2005
Starcross Ferry Publicity

1955 Timetable Card

1955 Timetable Card
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1955 Timetable Card
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1966 Timetable Card 1966 Timetable Card
By this date the ferry was summer only
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1966 Timetable Card
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