Builders: William Denny & Bros 1900
Propulsion type: Paddle, triple expansion
Owners: Belle Steamers Ltd, Hamburg America Line and others
Service dates: 1900 - 1925
Tonnage: Gross 535
Comments:
Southwold Belle had the unfortunate 'honour' of being the last Belle Steamer built but being the first scrapped. Her career of only 25 years was sadly very short. She was sold soon after financial troubles hit the owners and she made her last trip to her namesake pier on 23 September 1911. As there were no British buyers she was sold for use as a tender to the Hamburg America Line and renamed Westerland. A year later she was sold to a French concern and renamed Bon Voyage for use at Cherbourg. She was sold again in 1922 to a Genoan based operator and was scrapped at Genoa in 1925. Despite her short career on the Thames and East Coast there are numerous postcards of her still to be found. This picture shows her leaving Deal pier and it can be seen by the small flag on the aft jackstaff that a pilot is on board.