Medway Queen paddle steamer.

[oldgit]

A web cam is now active on the rebuild of the Medway Queen at Albion Dock Bristol.
(www.medwayqueen.co.uk)
She was used to evacuate troops at Dunkirk and after the war used to provide pleasure trips around the Thames and Medway.
The boat was hulked and spent many years rotting away in the Medway and finally down at the IOW.

Medway Queen(not sure of location.. Ventor ?) taken by me mid 1970s

A team of very very persistant people finally manged to get the money together to start the restoration.Her funnel and paddle boxes are lying on the dockside at Chatham.

 

[Wansworth]

No thats at the marina near the folly inn on the medina.The MQ was a disco for many years and they would only let you in if you wore a tie!

 

[oldgit]

No thats at the marina near the folly inn on the medina.The MQ was a disco for many years and they would only let you in if you wore a tie!

Thanks for that.Could not remember for the life of me where I took that snap.
My old mum worked on her for a while after the war as a ticket girl.

 

[byron]

I remember the old gal being on the I.O.W. and as a Disco although I never went in there. I never ever seemed to get past the Folly Inn. Although I have taken a boat right up to the top of the Medina.

 

[timgriffin]

She looks better than the Ryde Queen who has lost her funnels and looks in a sorry state .
Nice to see these boats being restored to former glory.
Tim

 

[andrewbarker]

Good to know that the old girl is getting some serious attention. it would be great if she sailed again.

My old man owed his life to that ship getting him away from Dunkirk under quite a lot of fire.

 

[burgundyben]

Interesting pic, I wonder what the 3 mast jobbie is behind the Queen.

I've been following the progress on the Medway Queen with much interest, I walked on her derelict decks as a kid, post the night club days.

They are building her with rivets too! first riveted hull in the UK for a long time.

Ryde Queen still there at Island Harbour, I doubt very much if she could even be moved now.

 

[oldgit]

"They are building her with rivets too! "

Local sources mention that several yards quoted prices for new welded hulls and quite a bit cheaper,but one of the funding stipulations was that new construction had to be plated and riveted.
Just as a matter of interest this photo was taken from the deck of the steamer,apparently mum ran the ice cream kiosk and has a neat picture of her in the required uniform to prove it.

Possibly a replica long ship sailed over from Denmark just after the war,is this the one which ended up ashore at Pegwell Bay in Kent for many years.?

 

[burgundyben]

I see that work in the dry dock seems to have stalled. I hope all is well with the project.

 

[burgundyben]

Great progress if you check out the webcam.