Tattershall Castle

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Tattershall Castle

Original Operating Area - Humber Estuary, UK - Now in Preservation at London, UK

Above : Tattershall Castle at the Embankment in London on 4th July 2018. Photo by kind courtesy of Phil Barnes

Launched on September 24th, 1934 by Wm. Gray at Hartlepool, England
Engines : Triple Expansion Diagonal, 18, 28.5 and 46 in x 51 in
Dimensions : 199,9 ft (overall) x 33.1/57 ft
556 Gross Registered Tons

Built for LNER Railway (later British Railways) Hull - New Holland ferry service
One of three paddlers maintaining a year-round service for passengers, cars, cattle and cargo
Withdrawn in 1972 as construction work on the Humber Suspension Bridge was about to start
Moved to the Embankment, London, serving as an art gallery from 1975 to 1981
Sold to the Chef & Brewer group and taken to the river Medway for major hull repairs at the Acorn Ship Repairers
Returned to her berth at the Embankment and opened as a pub and night club in August 1982
Main deck aft enclosed to provide additional covered accommodation
Wheelhouse replaced with the new "Bridge Suite" in 1988
Refurbished in 1991 by the Crescent shipyard on the Medway
Taken over by the Spirit Group (ex Punch Taverns) who then bought the Retail business of Scottish & Newcastle Breweries in 2003
Underwent a highly controversial refit over the winter of 2003-04 which substantially altered her appearance and removing her paddle wheels.
Since 2005 owned by TCG (Tattershall Castle Group), who own pubs across the country. The company brand is "the 1440", backed by venture capital group Alchemy
She temporarily closed for business in December 2014 and left her berth on 19th January 2015 for a refurbishment at Hull, arriving on the Humber on 22nd January
After refurbishment she returned to her berth on the Embankment for further service
In September 2015 the Tattershall Castle Group sold most of its pub estate, including the ship, to the acquisitive rival pub operators, Stonegate Pub Company
In April 2017 we was temporarily closed whilst moved 100 metres along the Embankment

Engine can be turned by electric motor. Boiler remains in situ

Refit 2003-04:

At the beginning of October 2003, Tattershall Castle was towed to Tilbury and transferred to a barge for the final leg of her journey to Great Yarmouth, for refurbishment. Her paddle wheels have been removed and her bridge totally rebuilt (again). Larger windows have been cut in the forward lounge affording a better view of the nearby London Eye Ferris wheel opposite her berth on London's Embankment to which she returned ion May 19th, 2004.
The refurbishment cost a total of GBP 4.75million.

Above : Tattershall Castle in service in 1971 in a photo kindly supplied by Jake Dale

Photo series in the photograph database

	1970s Still much as she was when withdrawn but with brown beige and black funnel More
	1983 With the main deck aft almost fully enclosed to provide space for a night club
	1986 Showing the canvas enclosure on the main deck forward Click here for thumbnails of the full 1986 photograph collection
	1988 With new Bridge Suite replacing the traditional wheelhouse Click here for thumbnails of the full 1988 photograph collection
	1993 Photo by Phil Barnes Click here for more
	2003-04 Under refit at George Prior's yard at Great Yarmouth. One photo by Syd Harper
	2004 Minus paddles and vents removed, Tattershall Castle might not now appear as a paddler to the casual observer and whilst refitted to modern standards, her unique selling point may have been lost. Photos by Mark Young
	2007 A detailed look at the "new" Tattershall Castle, from the riverbank, on deck and in the saloon on the main deck Click here for the full 2007 photograph collection

Tattershall Castle at her London berth in 2007, three years after her controversial refit

Above : Tattershall Castle at the Embankment in London on 4th July 2018, three years after her subsequent refit, complete with a miniature London bus on display in front of the Bridge Suite. Photo by kind courtesy of Phil Barnes

Website http://thetattershallcastle.co.uk/

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Statically Preserved Steamers
British Steamer Index
Hull - New Holland Ferry
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