Travel in the late 19th century
Paddlesteamers
Whilst aware of train and horsedrawn travel in this era, I had forgotten the large number of paddle steamers working in the UK. Living in Ilfracombe for several years, I was well aware of the paddle steamers that plied the route between South Wales (Swansea) and Ilfracombe, but I hadn't realised how many other area's were accessed by this form of travel.
I have previously sourced my Great Uncle's journal for a section written about his memories of being a child member of the Salvation Army and the conflict associated with The Skeleton Army. This week I am again sourcing a paragraph from this journal.
George Arthur Perry 1851-1934 was a Sanitary Inspector, working for Paddington Council. Working in London, he was living in St John's Wood, his wife Jessie nee Pope, died in March 1891, it would appear that very soon after this he began a relationship with Jessie's nurse, Edith, who was now employed as Nanny to Arthur and Jessie's son John, the author of the journal. However John and the Nanny, Edith, moved to Ipswich a few months later. In September 1891, Arthur and Edith married in Clacton, Essex. Edith and John continued to live in Ipswich, whilst Arthur commuted from London to Ipswich at the weekend. I thought that it was likely that Arthur got the train from Liverpool Street to Ipswich, however a section in John's journal suggests a different form of transport.
"One Saturday instead of arriving at the usual time, my father did not turn up until early Sunday morning. He had travelled by an excursion steamer, 'The Lord of the Isles' which was to arrive at Harwich and from which place a river steamer took passengers on to Ipswich, Several steamers were on the run from London and there was a great rivalry between them. This time the 'Lord of the Isles' crashed into Clacton Pier and smashed her paddle box. No one was injured but the boat was unable to proceed further, so arrangements were made to take the passengers by train."
- By Devious Paths:- John Arthur Perry
The Lord of The Isleswww.clydeships.co.uk
The Great Eastern Railway ran a small fleet of paddle steamers from Ipswich, which regularly called at Harwich. Other steamers plied for trade as far afield as London and Yarmouth:- www.harwichanddovercort.com
The London, Woolwich & Clacton-on-Sea Steamboat Company commenced operating from 1890. The 'Lord of the Isles' being bought for their fleet.
The incident described in John Arthur's journal can be dated as it featured in the newspapers.
19 April 1892 - Bury and Norwich Post - Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, England
It appears that it was not uncommon for these paddlesteamers to race each other and it was under these circumstances that this accident occurred.
Googlemaps provides the route taken by the paddle steamers. Embarking in London, following the River Thames to it's mouth and then along the coast to Harwich before changing craft to travel along the River Orwell to Ipswich.
Clacton Pier Ipswich Docks 1901 Ipswich Maritime Trust
The date of the newspaper report is interesting, as it is a month after the birth of Arthur and Edith's first child together, Dorothy Annie Perry, 1892-1945. The date of her birth may also explain the reason for Edith and her stepson's move to Ipswich, for 'appearances sake'.
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