S. S. Sabrina

The steamboat built by Fielding and Platt, tendered in 1870 and launched in 1871

D12131/17 Gloucestershire Archives
June 2012
M. Steggles
Newly restored aft deck
M.Phillips
Sabrina_from the Gloucestershire Archives
kindly supplied by Hugh Conway-Jones

In 1870, the tender by the company was agreed to built a small inspection steam boat for the local dock company which it used for voyages between Gloucester and the then flourishing port of Sharpness, further down the Severn.  This steam boat was the S. S. Sabrina.  She was one of the historic vessels which were part of the Diamond Jubilee River Pageant on 3 June 2012.

In the first photograph, you can see a pleasure cruise in the Sabrina from circa 1920.

The second and third photographs were kindly supplies by Carol Steggles in 2015.

The last photograph is a recent inclusion from another collection to the Gloucestershire Archives.

If you have any comments, please share your memories at the bottom of the page by clicking on the words Add a comment about this page.

Comments about this page

  • Hi, I’m Jonathan Bowler, son of Ann & Reginald Bowler.  They sailed the Sabrina around from Avonmouth to the Thames many years ago, then later I had my 40th Birthday party on board. I’m at present writing up dad’s log and wondered if you may have any other interesting bits of history that I could add to Document, who owns the boat? where is the Sabrina now?   Thanks,  Jon Bowler.

    By Jon Bowler (23/12/2015)
  • Hi Carol!  Many thanks for adding this valuable information that differs from that published so far. As the original order books of that specific period have not survived, the date of 1874 probably originates from notes made in the Centenary Book. 

    It would be good if you are able to share with us the name of the newspaper that recorded this event; perhaps you have a special interest in the S.S. Sabrina?   John B 

    By John Bancroft (15/02/2015)
  • My husband and I own Sabrina. She can be seen at the TTBR Traditional Boat Festival in Henley 18 and 19 July 2015.

    By Carol Steggles (15/02/2015)
  • Hi Carol!  Thanks for the information. It’s a pleasure to set the record straight!  John B

    By John Bancroft (15/02/2015)
  • Sabrina was tendered for in 1870 and launched in 1871. Newspaper article recorded the event 18 March 1871.

    By Carol Steggles (14/02/2015)

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