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Isle of Man Steam Packet Company
Page 1: 1830-1899
This page is one of a series devoted to postcards and photographs of the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company (IOMSPCo). This page covers the years of the paddle steamers, from the first
Mona's Isle
of 1830, to the largest cross-channel paddle steamer ever, the
Empress Queen
of 1897.
An alphabetical list of ships
shown on this page is shown below.
The Table
beneath gives links to complete history pages on selected individual ships on this page ( a complete list is shown on the
IOMSPCo Header Page
). Below the table is a
Fleet List
in chronological order.
Ships on This Page:-
Ben-my-Chree (2)
(1875-1906)
Douglas (1)
(1858-1862)
Douglas (2)
(1864-1888)
Ellan Vannin
(1883-1909)
- ex-
Mona's Isle (2)
Empress Queen
(1897-1916)
Fenella (1)
(1881-1929)
King Orry (1)
(1842-1858)
King Orry (2)
(1871-1912)
Mona's Isle (1)
(1830-1851)
Mona's Isle (2)
(1860-1883)
- later
Ellan Vannin
Mona's Isle (3)
(1882-1815)
Mona's Queen (2)
(1885-1929)
Peveril (1)
(1884-1899)
Prince of Wales
(1887-1915)
Queen Victoria
(1887-1915)
Snaefell (2)
(1876-1904)
Tynwald (3)
(1891-1933)
IOMSPCo Pages:-
IOMSPCo - Header Page
IOMSPCo - Page 1
- 1830-1899
- this page!
IOMSPCo - Page 2
- 1900-1914
IOMSPCo - Page 3
- 1915-1939
IOMSPCo - Page 4
- 1940-1960
IOMSPCo - Page 5
- 1961-1980
IOMSPCo - Page 6
- 1981-2004
Associated Pages:-
L&NWSS - Header Page
- Liverpool & North Wales Steamship Company
Ferry Postcards
Cruise Ship Postcards
Ocean Liner Postcards
Simplon Postcards Home Page
References:-
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Table of Ship Histories
Name
Other names
Built
Empress Queen
1897
Mona's Isle (3)
1882
Mona's Queen (2)
1885
Prince of Wales
1887
Queen Victoria
1887
Tynwald (3)
1891
IOMSPCo Fleet List
Page 1: 1830-1899
Mona's Isle (1) (1830-1851)
A.W.Moore wrote in 1904:-
"The contract for building the Company's first steamer was obtained by John Wood, of Glasgow, and for constructing her engines by Robert Napier, of the same city. This steamer was launched on the 30th June 1830, being named the
Mona's Isle (1)
, and she arrived in Douglas on the 14th August 1830. Her first trip was to the Menai Bridge, with her owners, on the following day. The insular newspapers waxed enthusiastic over her perfections, describing her as being "
as beautiful a vessel as ever appeared in this part
," and declaring that "
her accommodations are, if possible, more than equal to her appearance
". A Greenock newspaper is much more moderate in its remarks, merely referring to her "
as a superior steam vessel propelled by two engines of superior power.
" Though small, the
Mona's Isle
(1)
was fast for her day; she did the passage between Liverpool and Douglas in about eight hours on average. Robert Napier, the maker of her engines, stated, in after years, that he was largely indebted for his prosperity and reputation to the name made for him by the
Mona's Isle (1)
."
Dixon postcard L6/SP.903 of
Mona's Isle (1)
off Douglas, in a painting by Samuel Walters.
The card was later issued as part of the Manx National Heritage Collection, using the same serial number.
Modern postcard of
Mona's Isle (1)
off Douglas, with 150th Anniversary stamp issued 6th May 1980.
150th Anniversary stamp issued 6th May 1980.
150th Anniversary stamp issued 6th May 1980.
King Orry (1) (1842-1858)
A.W.Moore wrote in 1904:-
"In the 1842, the Directors ordered a steamer to be built by John Winram, of Douglas. Her engines were supplied by Robert Napier. She was named the
King Orry (1)
, and proved an excellent sea-boat. With great comparative breadth of beam, she was what would now be called a "tub". The average duration of her passage between Liverpool and Douglas was about seven hours, and her fastest run six hours and twenty minutes".
Modern "Motor-in-Man" postcard of
King Orry (1)
.
From a painting by Elizabeth Howarth.
Douglas (1) (1858-1862)
A.W.Moore wrote in 1904:- "
The passenger traffic at this time continued to increase, and the Directors decided that a larger and faster steamer was required. This resulted in the building of the famous
Douglas
, the first steamer which had an upright stem, instead of the picturesque bowsprit and figure-head of her predecessors. In other respects, too, she was a great contrast to them, being long and rather narrow, instead of short and broad.
"She did seventeen and a quarter knots per hour on her trial trip. Her quickest passage between Liverpool and Douglas was four hours and twenty minutes, and she was said to be the fastest steamer then afloat. We may mention that in her cabin were views of Peel Castle and Cathedral, of Bishop's Court, of the Cathedral at Iona, of Kirk Braddan, of the town and bay of Douglas, of Castletown, Ramsey, Liverpool, etc, and that an enthusiastic account of her appearance in the Manx Sun culminates in the remark, that "
altogether the coup d'oeil presented by the cabin is superb.
" After four years' service she was sold, nominally to Cunard, Wilson & Co, but really to Fraser, Trenholm & Co, the Confederate Agents, for the purpose of running the blockade during the Civil War in America. Painted grey, and re-christened the
Margaret and Jessie
, she had a most successful career, till it came to an end in the manner described as follows by the Nassau Guardian (Bahamas):-
"We have to record this evening another unjustifiable outrage committed by a Federal gunboat within the prescribed limits of our shores. On Saturday last, the Margaret and Jessie, Captain Wilson, from Charleston for this port, was fallen in with by the Federal steamer Rhode Island, off Abaco, and chased till she arrived close to the shore off Jennes Point, Eleuthera. There would be no legal cause of complaint had the pursuit and firing ceased as soon as the Margaret and Jessie approached within the distance of three miles from the land; but as she neared the coast, and was only 20 yards off - that is, between the reef and the land - the gunboat, which was not more than from a quarter to half-a-mile distant, commenced pouring in broadside after broadside, varying the performance with shot, grape and shell - not only to the imminent danger of all on board (and there were ladies among the passengers), but to the serious alarm of the inhabitants of the Island, who suddenly found themselves subjected to a sharp and decisive bombardment. The missiles fired from the Rhode Island ploughed up the earth in various directions, and came in close proximity to, if not actually passing through, dwellings, and drove people to seek refuge between rocks and other projections. This was kept up for miles, and at length the Margaret and Jessie received a shot through her boiler, and another through her bows, which forced her to take the beach, then only fifty yards distant."
"Some days later, she got off the beach, and arrived at Nassau. She does not seem to have been again employed as a blockade runner, and we do not know what became of her."
Modern postcard of
Douglas (1)
, with 150th Anniversary stamp issued 6th May 1980.
150th Anniversary stamp issued 6th May 1980.
150th Anniversary stamp issued 6th May 1980.
Mona's Isle (2) (1860-1883)
Ellan Vannin (1883-1909)
A.W.Moore wrote in 1904:- "
In 1860 came one of the most remarkable and probably one of the most profitable vessels ever owned by the Company, the present
Ellan Vannin
, then known as the
Mona's Isle
. Though more than seventy feet longer than the
Queen of the Isle
, she had a slightly smaller tonnage. Converted into a twin-screw in 1883, and having her name translated, as we have seen, she is still doing good work".
Ellan Vannin
was mainly used on the Ramsey to Whitehaven and Liverpool routes. She left Ramsey on 3rd December 1909 bound for Liverpool with 15 passengers (plus mails and cargo) and with crew of 21. As she approached the Mersey, she was caught in a force 12 north westerley gale and sank at around 7am with the loss of all lives. She was supposed swept by heavy seas, filled, and sank stern first.
A.Duncan photographic postcard of
Ellan Vannin
.
Douglas (2) (1864-1888)
Contemporary illustration of
Douglas (2)
.
King Orry (2) (1871-1912)
Official IOMSPCo postcard of
King Orry (2)
at Douglas.
Postcard of
King Orry (2)
at Douglas.
Peacock Brand postcard of
King Orry (2)
at the Liverpool Landing Stage.
Posted 10th September 1906.
Modern "Motor-in-Man" postcard of
King Orry (2)
on the Mersey.
Ben-my-Chree (2) (1875-1906)
Castle Series postcard No.127 of
Ben-my-Chree (2)
at Douglas with 4 funnels.
Snaefell (2) (1876-1904)
Stendel postcard of
Snaefell (2)
at Ramsey.
Postcard of
Snaefell (2)
arriving at Ramsey.
National Series postcard of
Snaefell (2)
leaving Ramsey.
Modern "Motor-in-Man" postcard of
Snaefell (2)
at Douglas.
Modern Grafix postcard of
Snaefell (2)
at Douglas.
Fenella (1) (1881-1929)
A.W.Moore wrote in 1904:- "
In 1878 we have to chronicle an important new departure. Till that year the Company had only paddle steamers, but they then put a single-screw vessel, the
Mona
, on the station. She was followed by the twin-screws,
Fenella (1)
and
Peveril (1)
. These vessels all proved themselves admirably adapted for the winter service, and they are worked at a much less cost than the paddle steamers. The
Fenella
has a record for usefulness perhaps only second to that of the
Ellan Vannin
, but the
Mona
and the
Peveril
have been unfortunate. The former was run into and sunk when lying at anchor off the Mersey, in a fog, and the
Peveril
was sunk off Douglas as the result of a collision. These are the only steamers the Company has ever lost".
Modern "Motor-in-Man" postcard of