PS Tattershall Castle facts for kids
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|} The PS Tattershall Castle is a special boat that floats on the River Thames in London. It's not just any boat; it's a popular pub and restaurant! Before it became a fun place to eat and drink, it was a busy passenger ferry. From 1934 to 1973, it carried people across the River Humber estuary. In 1976, it was moved to London and started its new life.
Contents
| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom |
|
| Name | The Tattershall Castle |
| Namesake | Tattershall Castle, Lincolnshire |
| Owner |
|
| Route |
|
| Ordered | 1934 |
| Builder | William Gray & Company, Hartlepool, England |
| Launched | 24 September 1934 |
| Commissioned | 24 September 1934 |
| Decommissioned | 1974 |
| Identification | IMO number: 5353804 |
| Status | Restaurant and bar moored on the River Thames |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Paddle steamer |
| Tonnage | 556 GT |
| Length | 209 ft (64 m) |
| Beam | 56 ft (17 m) (including paddle box) |
| Propulsion | Triple expansion, diagonal stroke, reciprocating steam engine, 1200 ihp. |
| Speed | 12.0 knots (22.2 km/h; 13.8 mph) |
A Boat's Beginning
The Tattershall Castle was built in 1934. A company called William Gray & Company made it. It was designed to be a passenger ferry on the River Humber. This river is in England. The boat belonged to the London and North Eastern Railway (LNER) company.
Crossing the Humber
The Tattershall Castle sailed on the Humber Ferry route. It traveled between two places. One was Kingston upon Hull in Yorkshire. The other was New Holland in Lincolnshire. It carried many passengers back and forth.
Service During Wartime
During the Second World War, the ship had an important job. It helped by holding up barrage balloons. These balloons were used to protect cities from air attacks. The ship also moved soldiers and supplies along the River Humber. The river often had thick fog. Because of this, the Tattershall Castle was one of the first civilian ships to get radar. Radar helps ships see through fog.
After the War
After the war ended, the railways became owned by the government in 1948. The Tattershall Castle then became part of British Rail's Sealink service. It continued to serve as a ferry for many years.
A New Chapter for the Ship
In 1973, after a long time as a ferry, the ship was retired. It was no longer needed for its original job. In 1976, the Tattershall Castle was moved to London. Fixing the ship to be a ferry again was too expensive. Also, a new bridge, the Humber Bridge, was built. This bridge made the ferry service unnecessary.
From Art to Restaurant
The PS Tattershall Castle first opened on the River Thames as a floating art gallery. Later, it was sold to the Chef & Brewer group. Before it opened as a restaurant in 1982, it went for more repairs. In 2015, the Tattershall Castle went back to Hull for a big update. This update cost several million pounds.
Sister Ships
The Tattershall Castle had a sister ship. It was called the PS Wingfield Castle. This ship was also launched in 1934. Today, it is kept safe at Hartlepool's Maritime Experience. Another similar Humber ferry was the PS Lincoln Castle. It was built in 1940. Sadly, this ship was taken apart in 2010.
