MV Maid of Ashton
Encyclopedia
MV Maid of Ashton was a passenger ferry operated by Caledonian Steam Packet Company
, initially on the Holy Loch
service. Rendered redundant by the car ferry revolution, she was sold for a new career as a floating restaurant on the Thames, under the name Hispaniola.
In May 1957, Princess Margaret took a cruise down river from Glasgow on Maid of Ashton.
With the switch to car ferry services, Maid of Ashton became redundant and was laid up in May 1971. In January 1973 she was sold to the Yardarm Club of London, as a floating club-house on the Thames Embankment
. "Hispaniola", as she was renamed, was initially a private dining club, but later became a popular public restaurant. She was moved down river, to a berth close to an old Clyde consort, TS Queen Mary
. In 2002, new owners, City Cruises had her refitted at the George Prior yard in Ipswich
. She resumed business, under the shadow of the London Eye
, with two decks of restaurant and function room facilities.
.
service from Gourock
, with calls at Kilmun
, Craigendoran
, Kilcreggan
and Blairmore
. She was popular for her comfort and time-keeping superior to her predecessor, . In the late 1950s, the Maids lost their fixed routes and operated across the Clyde network.
Caledonian Steam Packet Company
The Caledonian Steam Packet Company provided a scheduled shipping service, carrying freight and passengers, on the west coast of Scotland. Formed in 1889 to complement the services of the Caledonian Railway, the company expanded by taking over rival ferry companies...
, initially on the Holy Loch
Holy Loch
The Holy Loch is a sea loch in Argyll and Bute, Scotland.Robertson's Yard at Sandbank, a village on the loch, was a major wooden boat building company in the late 19th and early 20th centuries....
service. Rendered redundant by the car ferry revolution, she was sold for a new career as a floating restaurant on the Thames, under the name Hispaniola.
History
Maid of Ashton was the first of a quartet of passenger vessels ordered in 1951 to modernise the Clyde fleet. She was the only Clyde passenger vessel ever built by Yarrow's naval yard at Scotstoun.In May 1957, Princess Margaret took a cruise down river from Glasgow on Maid of Ashton.
With the switch to car ferry services, Maid of Ashton became redundant and was laid up in May 1971. In January 1973 she was sold to the Yardarm Club of London, as a floating club-house on the Thames Embankment
Thames Embankment
The Thames Embankment is a major feat of 19th century civil engineering designed to reclaim marshy land next to the River Thames in central London. It consists of the Victoria and Chelsea Embankment....
. "Hispaniola", as she was renamed, was initially a private dining club, but later became a popular public restaurant. She was moved down river, to a berth close to an old Clyde consort, TS Queen Mary
TS Queen Mary
The two funnel Clyde steamer TS Queen Mary was built at the William Denny shipyard at Dumbarton for Williamson-Buchanan. The 871 gross tons steamer was powered by three direct drive steam turbines, and carried 2086 passengers making her the largest excursion turbine on the River Clyde.-In...
. In 2002, new owners, City Cruises had her refitted at the George Prior yard in Ipswich
Ipswich
Ipswich is a large town and a non-metropolitan district. It is the county town of Suffolk, England. Ipswich is located on the estuary of the River Orwell...
. She resumed business, under the shadow of the London Eye
London Eye
The London Eye is a tall giant Ferris wheel situated on the banks of the River Thames, in London, England.It is the tallest Ferris wheel in Europe, and the most popular paid tourist attraction in the United Kingdom, visited by over 3.5 million people annually...
, with two decks of restaurant and function room facilities.
Layout
MV Maid of Ashton had a forward observation lounge and an aft tearoom, both with large windows. A lower deck lounge was later converted to a bar. Open deck space available for passengers was limited. The bridge was forward on the promenade deck, with a landing platform above, for use at very low tides. She had a single funnel, over the central engines, with the galley aft. A main mast was added after launch, to comply with new light regulations. She was the first Clyde passenger ship to enter service with radarRadar
Radar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio...
.
Service
MV Maid of Ashton operated the Holy LochHoly Loch
The Holy Loch is a sea loch in Argyll and Bute, Scotland.Robertson's Yard at Sandbank, a village on the loch, was a major wooden boat building company in the late 19th and early 20th centuries....
service from Gourock
Gourock
Gourock is a town falling within the Inverclyde council area and formerly forming a burgh of the historic county of Renfrewshire in the west central Lowlands of Scotland. It has in the past functioned as a seaside resort on the Firth of Clyde...
, with calls at Kilmun
Kilmun
Kilmun is a linear settlement on the north shore of the Holy Loch in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It runs between the head of the loch and connects with the village of Strone at Strone Point, where the loch joins the Firth of Clyde....
, Craigendoran
Craigendoran
Craigendoran is a suburb at the eastern end of Helensburgh in Scotland, on the northern shore of the Firth of Clyde. The name is from the Gaelic for "the rock of the otter"....
, Kilcreggan
Kilcreggan
Kilcreggan is a village in Argyll and Bute, Scotland.It developed on the north shore of the Firth of Clyde at a time when Clyde steamers brought it within easy reach of Glasgow at about 25 miles west of the centre of Glasgow by boat...
and Blairmore
Blairmore
Blairmore may refer to:*Blairmore, Alberta, a town in Canada*Blairmore, Sutherland, a rural settlement in Highland, Scotland*Blairmore School, a former independent school in Aberdeenshire, Scotland...
. She was popular for her comfort and time-keeping superior to her predecessor, . In the late 1950s, the Maids lost their fixed routes and operated across the Clyde network.