Volume Eight - Pre-Victorian to the present day - more aspects - The White Funnel Fleet - P & A Campbell Limited

As a result of her success, Messrs. P. & A. Campbell decided personally to operate her in the Bristol Channel. The early days of the firm, now a Limited Company, were enlivened by extensive competition, but success was achieved and in 1891, on 3rd July, a new steamer, the 'Ravenswood', made her first trip from Bristol. In those days, with two funnels instead of one, she presented a different appearance from the ship so well known to residents and holiday-makers in the West Country and South Wales, until her withdrawal from service at the end of the 1954 season.

The 'Scotia', 'Lorna Doone' and 'Bonnie Doon', to name but a few, provided the opposition of the early days, but, in spite of it all, the White Funnel ships gradually became the firm favourites in the Channel.

In 1893 the old firm became a Limited Company with a capital of £60,000, which has since been increased to an insured capital of £230,000. Immediately the order was given for the 'Westward Ho'. This vessel was at the time something quite new in passenger steamship construction. Her decks were extended from stem to stern and her fittings and comforts were in advance of any similar vessel then afloat.

The Company now began to go from strength to strength and in 1895 the 'Cambria' joined the fleet - again an example of the progressive way in which the Company was operated, being the fastest passenger boat of her size afloat. Both these vessels, the 'Westward Ho' and the 'Cambria' continued in service until 1939 and, after serving for the second time in war, finally ended their careers in the shipbreakers' yard in 1946.

Next came the 'Britannia', perhaps the most famous of all White Funnel steamers. Fast, comfortable and beautifully equipped, she was until 1946, the Flagship of the Line. Through two wars and throughout her long life this vessel plied the waters of the Bristol Channel and elsewhere, and remained one of the fastest ships of her size afloat.