PS ''Monarch'' is one of the three active

paddle steamer A paddle steamer is a steamship or steamboat powered by a steam engine that drives paddle wheels to propel the craft through the water. In antiquity, paddle wheelers followed the development of poles, oars and sails, where the first uses wer ...

s in the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...

. Construction started in 1984 and it was launched in 1994, although the steam plant originated as a 19th-century tar pump from Caerphilly gas works. At only 42 feet long, 8 feet wide and with a capacity for only 12 passengers, she is the world's smallest commercial paddle steamer. The Monarch was designed and built by Brian Waters, who was a key volunteer in finally restoring the paddle steamer

Kingswear Castle Kingswear Castle is an artillery fort, built to protect Dartmouth, Devon, Dartmouth harbour in Devon, England. It was constructed between 1491 and 1502 in response to the threat of French attack and was one of the first purpose-built artillery ...

. It was a dream of his to construct his own paddle steamer from scratch. Construction was originally started in 1984, but it took him almost twenty years before she was finally finished, entering commercial service in 2003. The PS Monarch was based at

Island Harbour Marina Island Harbour Marina, on the Isle of Wight, United Kingdom, UK, is a commercial marina on the River Medina in the small Hamlet (place), hamlet of Binfield, Isle of Wight, Binfield. It is located approximately halfway between Cowes and the Count ...

on the

Isle of Wight The Isle of Wight ( ) is a county in the English Channel, off the coast of Hampshire, from which it is separated by the Solent. It is the largest and second-most populous island of England. Referred to as 'The Island' by residents, the Isle of ...

for three seasons from 2008 until 2010, offering excursions in the

River Medina The River Medina is the main river of the Isle of Wight, England, rising at St Catherine's Down near Chale, and flowing northwards through the county town Newport, towards the Solent at Cowes. The river is a navigable tidal estuary from Newpor ...

. The vessel now operates from Wareham on the

River Frome, Dorset The River Frome is a river in Dorset in the south of England. At 30 miles (48 km) long it is the major chalkstream in southwest England. It is navigable upstream from Poole Harbour as far as the town of Wareham. Geography The river ris ...

. She is one of the smallest paddle steamers in UK.

References

External links

Paddle Steamer Monarch website
Paddle steamers of the United Kingdom 1994 ships {{ship-stub