11th Hour For LINCOLN CASTLE – Updated
1940 Glasgow-built paddle steamer LINCOLN CASTLE is in imminent risk of being lost to scrappers, as societies and individuals meet and plan, the demolition company is already on board.
LINCOLN CASTLE was launched on September 24, 1934, completed 1940 and brought to the River Humber in 1941 to accompany existing Humber ferries on passenger service. War duties intervened and saw her sailing on various routes around the Humber before she was placed in public service on the New Holland to Hull route, operated by the London and North Eastern Railway. The railways were nationalization in 1948, her new owners became by British Railways (later known as British Rail). LINCOLN CASTLE remained on this route until 1978 as the last coal-fired paddle steamer providing regular service in the UK. A failed a boiler inspection saw her withdrawn from service.
LINCOLN CASTLE was opened as a pub and moored at Hessle, near the Humber Bridge which, when it opened in 1981, spanning the Humber Estuary, effectively ended all ferry crossings. Sold and moved to a berth at Immingham for refurbishment, she was reopened as a bar and restaurant in 1989 at the National Fishing Heritage Centre in Alexandra Dock, Grimsby and open until 2006.
Earlier this year it was announced that unless a new owner could be found, the vessel would be scrapped. Press reports suggest that The Paddle Steamer Preservation Society is, as of July 7th, providing advice and support to the Hull-based Lincoln Castle Preservation Society, without becoming directly involved in the last ditch effort to save the vessel.
UPDATE: August 20, 2010: It was reported in local press that the LINCOLN CASTLE Preservation Society Chairman Stephen Sharpe said: “We raised £103,200 in just five weeks, but still they (owners of the ship) won’t accept it. They only asked for £20,000 a short while ago.” Woodwork and internal fittings have been removed and the hull is set to be dismantled by the end of the month.
For more information and pictures on this breaking story visit:
http://paddlesteamers.awardspace.com/LincolnCastle.htm
To join the Lincoln Castle Preservation Society please download the following attachment:
Download this form (MS Word attachment)
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Manythanks Martin for picking up on this issue and publicising it. I know it is a bit off topic for you and preservationist in the US have their own ships to worry about but any publicity for the Lincoln Castle is most welcome. The amount of money needed for this ship is in relative terms small and we have so few of these ships left in the UK that we must try everything possible to save her. I hope that many of your readers will also browse my Foundation for Paddle Steamers Worldwide website and learn more about this type of ship. I know that the individual is basically powerless to stop the enexorable march of the greal liners to Alang, but here are ships which the general public can save, either statically or in passenger service, through their own efforts. It has been shown many times! Let Lincoln Castle be another example. Thank you very much. Gordon
for the record Gordon , I notified Martin about this and he quickly publicised it !
I echo your words . the asking price plus the bond is very low when you think of the price of an average two up two down terrace house and comparing her to the condition and restoration costs of Paddle Steamer Ryde she would be a far better proposition . We have so little to show for our rich maritime history and even the National Maritime Museum dismantled PS Reliant ( which had been given to them ) leaving only the John Amos as the sole representative of a British Paddle tug over here ( another is in the US ) . the problem of course is the berthing costs dry dock costs restoration etc
the City Of Adelaide is another vessel at risk . millions have been spent on reconstructing Cutty Sark and lottery money has been squandered on some dubious projects yet irreplacible examples of our heritage are being lost , 40 years ago SS Great Britain was brought back from the Falkland Islands largely funded by a rich benefactor , if only there was somebody out there who would do the same for PS Lincoln Castle!
Martin Sims
Thanks Martin S ! It’s all about which ships are important to whom – and the interest is spread amongst many. There is considerable interest developing in the Humberside area (and I hope beyond) about Lincoln Castle – but she just doesn’t have the profile or the history of a lot of other ships. Having said that, irrespective of the history, my vision is always to get this type of ship doing what it is supposed to – passenger excursions and maybe some ferry work – and there”s no way SS Great Britain or the Cutty Sark will be doing that ! if the intransigence of the owner can be overcome I think the initial capital requirement can be met and Stephen Sharpe was been working very hard on a credible plan for her future. Tough, but if enough people just join the LC Preservation Society (application form and details on my web page quoted in Martin C’s report) it might just work…….
Joined today.
Lets hope PS Lincoln Castle is saved for future generations to enjoy.
Jim S
Update,
according to another website , actual scrapping of Lincoln Castle has been postponed until Wednesday though most of the interiors have been removed and much offered for sale on castoff website . the owners have indicated that they would sell the engines for £20000 . The Lincoln Castle Preservation Society indicate that they nearly have enough money to purchase the vessel according to the same source . If some more 11th hour efforts perhaps she will just make it ???
It could now only be a few days until scrapping of the structure of Lincoln Castle starts. Preservation groups have much more money raised than needed to buy the ship. The problem is that the owner has decided to scrap rather than to sell to preservationists. The reasons for this can only be speculated on. However, if a major white knight were to come along, it could change the owner’s position. Click on the web link after the main report above for the latest information which is updated frequently as news comes in
It looks like now is definitely the end for Lincoln castle. The inner fittings are stripped, the wheelhouse gone and the anchor is now up for action on a local website. The “jaws” are now waiting on the quayside and may take Sunday off….but that’s about it. The owner won’t sell even though he has been offered five times the asking price – and won’t talk to anyone who wants to negotiate. A total farcical situation which beggars belief. The UK will definitely only now have one coastal/estuarine paddler, Waverley – not enough to make it a viable long term business long term.
Please all have a laugh at the UK – maritime nation ????
Up to date details about the PS Lincoln castle saga are at the usual website