Kilmun

[Alistair Deayton]

Farr's "West Country Passenger Steamers" mentions the Severn KILMUN,

In 1859 a brief threat of competition was made (on the Cardiff to
Bristol/Portishead route) by the freak iron built packet KILMUN, 106 t.g.,
built in Worcester for David Napier, a gentleman of the city (apparently not
the Clyde David Napier unless he had moved to Worcester). Her length of
137ft, and breadth of 15 ft indicate something decidedly built for speed,
and the press of 4 July 1859 stated"... Her draught amidships is about 35
inches and fore and aft is only six. She is flat bottomed, has two screws, a
square stern, and four funnels". Nothing more is heard of this unusual
vessel and one presumes she returned to her Severn waters, where she was
broken up around 1860, although her register was not closed until much
later. It is unfortunate that no plan or pictures of her exists."

Assuming this is the same steamer, either the contemporary press was wrong,
stating her to be a screw steamer, or McQueen was wrong, stating her to be a
sternwheeler, or she was converted from screw to stern wheel between 1860
and 1893 and not broken up.
I will make further enquiries

Alistair Deayton

[Paulrjordan]

--- In Paddleducks@yahoogroups.com, "Alistair Deayton"
<Alistair@d...> wrote:
>
> > Dear Alistair Deayton,
> > Ian McCrorie sent me a copy of your e-mail and as I have been
> > doing some research on the steamers of the 1850s and 1860s, I
> > have some information on KILMUN which might clarify the issue.
{SNIP}
> > "There arrived at our port yesterday, from Holyhead, a somewhat
> > novel constructed steamer, built some years ago as an experiment
> > by Mr D. Napier of Glasgow, and which has since been plying on
> > the River Severn. She is named the KILMUN and is intended for the
> > Kilmun and Glasgow station.

> > She is propelled, however, by a paddle-wheel placed right astern,
> > being flush with the deck, and steams about 16mph. Her draught is
> > very light, which will enable to go rapidly on the river."

Woooh, well done, Alistair. Walter, looks like this is your
sternwheeler and you guys have done a great job unearthing her. Now
let's try to bring her back to life by finding images of her? I'd
love to see those 4 funnels! Something must exist on her and I wonder
if there are plans at the NMM or on on the Clyde?

"Built by Mr. Napier as an experiment"...one that obviously wasn't
repeated even though she apparently demonstrated a fair turn of
speed. This story is intriguing..and I'd like to find out more of the
afore mentioned Mr. David Napier!

Alistair, I didn't see the name of your correspondent so, on behalf
of us, please thank him and Ian McRorie for helping find Walter's
sternwheeler which might turn out to be totally unique Scottish
paddlesteamer.


Now where can we go next? Down to the Severn maybe? Walter, please
keep us abeam of any new info!

PJ
Victoria, BC Canada