Anyone who knew the Dorset resort of Weymouth during the first half of the 20th century must have been familiar with the paddle steamers belonging to the long-established firm of Cosens & Co Ltd. With their distinctive black-topped buff funnels, they had become an essential part of the local seaside experience, offering summer sailings from the Pleasure Pier to Portland, Lulworth Cove, Swanage, Bournemouth and the Isle of Wight. During the winter they lined the narrow harbour awaiting their turn for attention by the company’s slipway or engineering staff.
By the summer of 1949 there were still four steamers based at Weymouth but, as fashions changed, trade began to dwindle, costs increased, and much-loved members of Cosens’ fleet, Monarch, Victoria, Empress and Emperor of were towed to the breaker’s yard. By 1956 only the veteran (ex-) remained, undertaking a mixture of full day sailings to Bournemouth and more local trips.
