The sad demise of the Compton Castle

By Tony Brett

The Paddle Steamer Compton Castle was the longest serving paddle
steamer on the River Dart operating from 1914 to 1962. There were four paddle steamers named after castles working on the River Dart. The other three were Dartmouth Castle, Totnes Castle, and Kingswear Castle.

Passenger sailings were reduced in the Second World War and Compton
Castle was used by the Royal Navy as an ammunition carrier.
Her last trip took place in September 1962. She had failed to obtain a
passenger certificate because of a suspect boiler and was laid up in Old
Mill Creek, Dartmouth. As repair costs were considered too high she was
put up for sale as scrap.

Brixham Youth Club wanted to buy her as a floating headquarters to be
moored in the inner harbour. The plan was rejected. She was then moved to a new berth by the railway line at Kingswear opposite Dartmouth.

Mr. Harry Wood from Stockport now comes to the rescue. His daughter
explained. “I’m not sure how he came to buy the boat. He was boat and engine mad.

He just fancied this and wanted to do it up.”

Which he did, and then towed her round to Kingsbridge and moored her at
Squares Quay as a floating café and Museum. While under Harry Wood’s
ownership the engine room was featured in the television series The
Onedin Line; and for a time the boat was commissioned to promote
Birdseye Fish Fingers.

However by 1977 she had changed ownership
several times, and deteriorated badly. She was put up for sale again.
This time, Mr Clayton, a publican from Looe, saves the day. He intends to
run her again. Compton Castle arrives in Looe in May 1978, with high
expectations, but in a short time the dream fades. Mr Clayton has run out
of money to refurbish the boat. But this is not the end. Mr David Worrledge
enters the story with the ambition of creating a floating pub / restaurant for
Truro. He buys the boat, and on the 14th May1982 she arrives at her new
berth in Truro minus her engine which has been sold to a museum on the
Isle of Wight.

But by the autumn of 1984 the novelty of a restaurant has worn off and
Compton Castle closes for business. In 1985 it was rumoured a French
chef was thinking of buying her. Nothing came of it and by 1989 squatters
occupied the dilapidated boat which had been up for sale for several
months. It seemed again the end was near, but Jane Adele thought
otherwise and brought her, The old steamer became a florists with a coffee
shop.

The 14th of May 2007 marked the 25th anniversary of her arrival at Lemon
Quay. The boat looked a sorry sight but was still open as a florist, with a
coffee shop named Ziggy’s Bistro.

By April 2009 a visitor would have guessed her days as a florist were over.
No plants to be seen apart from those sprouting from the boat. But there
was plenty of activity. Workmen were aboard yet again as another
transformation took shape. The venture would refurbish the boat as a
restaurant and tearoom run by chef Kevin Viner. A placard nearby
announced the arrival The Ships Biscuit Viners at Lemon Quay. But, in November, a local paper reported the company had gone into voluntary liquidation.

Still the renovation of the boat continued and in 2010 she was advertised
as a commercial property to rent at £65,000 pa.
By this time with air-conditioning systems on her roof, and nameplate gone,
calling her a paddle steamer appeared far-fetched. Yet a hulk seemed
harsh. And she still held fond memories for many.

Would she still be around in 2014 for her centenary year?. She continued to
float with the tide everyday; but to see the steam engine that drove her up
and down the river Dart for all those years you need to visit a museum on
the Isle of Wight. If you want to get the full paddle steamer experience take
a trip to Dartmouth and pretend the boat you are looking at is Compton
Castle. For in 2013 the Kingswear Castle came back to Dartmouth. It had
been lovingly preserved as a fully functioning paddle steamer.

In no time at all the Ships Biscuit kiosk in Truro has gone replaced by a snack
bar nearby; a black Portakabin with giant lettering reading HUBBOX. It
looks as if the snack bar had an arrangement to use the boat. The paddler
had become a burger store; well in part.

By 2015 circumstances changed again. On the 8th of October, under new
management, it opened as a coffee shop. For five years it operated
successfully, and might still be doing so but for the Covid outbreak. On the
15th of July 2020 it was announced the boat would not be reopening.
And from there things went downhill yet again. It was occupied by
squatters, and sank a few times. Then out of the blue yet another idea
surfaced for the boat. Paul Bent of Treheveras Farm Truro had a plan to
relocate the vessel on their land but the plan was rejected.
Sadly,, the last page of Compton Castle’s story has now been turned. It is
July 2025 and demolition equipment has arrived at Lemon Quay
———
My website pscomptoncastle.com provides a detailed history of Compton Castle
including newspaper cuttings, interviews and hearsay. It runs up to her centenary
year 2014. Now the story appears complete I might add the final years into the
website someday
To see my videoThe Homecoming trip of PS Kingswear Castle on Youtube