Drunkenness and unruly behaviour on the river steamers of the Clyde were problems that “respectable” working class folk had to deal with in the period leading up to 1880. In that year, a syndicate was formed by Mr. Alexander Allan of the Allan Line, Mr. George Smith and Captain James Brown, both of the City Line, Mr. Robert Shankland, of Greenock and Captain James Williamson to obtain and run a steamboat run on temperance principles. Captain James Williamson, one of three sons of Captain Alexander Williamson of the “Turkish Fleet” was to manage the company and was to command the new steamer Ivanhoe for nine seasons until he assumed management of the Caledonian Steam Packet Company.

Drinking on a river steamer—frowned upon!

The new steamer was to sail on one of the most attractive excursions from Helensburgh to Whiting Bay on the Island of Arran by way of Rothesay and the Kyles of Bute, returning by the south end of Bute. Despite the appearance of the Columba with her saloons the full width of the hull two years earlier, the new steamer was designed with narrow deck saloons and so from the start was rather old fashioned.  However, her appointments were first class and the crew was well-managed so that she had the looks of a yacht rather than a commercial steamer. No liquor would be sold on board and it was expected that the new vessel would win the support of the temperance movement. The new company, the Frith of Clyde Steam Packet Co., made sure the steamer was well advertised and created a number of novelty items to promote the route.

    

Advertising cards to attract passengers from all social classes

In fact, it was the general population that took to the steamer in numbers and soon “The Ivanhoe Flask” with contents suitable for a full-day’s cruise was available for sale in Glasgow.

Ivanhoe leaving Greenock (Washington Wilson)

Some excerpts from the Glasgow Herald:

Launch of a River Steamer.

Messrs D. & W. Henderson & Co. launched yesterday, April 25th 1880, from their shipbuilding yard, Partick, a handsome paddle steamer of the following dimensions:—Length, 255 feet; breadth, 22 feet; and depth, 8 feet. The vessel is fitted with a pair of surface condensing diagonal oscillating engines, the cylinders being each 43 inches, and the stroke 5 feet 6 inches. She has also two haystack boilers, constructed entirely of steel, each 12 feet 9 inches diameter. The saloon, which will be very luxuriously furnished, is 190 feet long, and is on the upper deck. The smoking-room is forward, and the steerage aft. The dining saloon is below, and the galley, instead of being on deck, adjoins it. The route of the new vessel is to between Arran and Helensburgh via Kyles of Bute. She is owned by a few influential Glasgow gentlemen, with Capt. James Williamson as managing owner. The ceremony of naming the vessel “Ivanhoe” was performed by Mrs James Bell, Elmbank Crescent. The Ivanhoe will be conducted on temperance principles, and she is intended as the pioneer of a fleet of saloon temperance steamers.

Ivanhoe off Dunoon

After the launch the builders entertained a company to cake and wine, including champagne, in the model-room at Meadowside. Mr David Henderson proposed “Success to the Ivanhoe,” which was cordially pledged. Captain Williamson replied, remarking that it gave him great pleasure to be present at the launch, and he had great pleasure in seeing the work carried on from the laying of the keel to the successful launch that day. As they were aware, the Ivanhoe was to be conducted on temperance principles, and he felt quite sure such a vessel was wanted. A large section of the community would, he was confident, appreciate the services of such a vessel, as on board it they could enjoy the beautiful scenery without being annoyed with drunken scenes. He proposed the health of the lady who had christened the vessel, and Mr James Bell replied. Mr Alexander Allan submitted the toast to the builders. He said the launch of a steamer on the Clyde was always of interest, but it was doubly so when it happened to be a river steamer. He felt quite sure the Ivanhoe would be successful, and it was very gratifying to know that the steamer would be conducted on temperance principles, as he was certain the want of a bar in the vessel would be no “bar” to its success. (Laughter.) Mr William Henderson replied.

Ivanhoe at Rothesay (Valentine)

New River Steamer Ivanhoe

This splendid addition to the Clyde fleet of passenger steamers, built by Messrs D. & W. Henderson, for the Frith of Clyde Steam Packet Company (Limited), went down the river on her trial trip yesterday. The vessel was described at some length in our columns when launched, and it need only be added that she will bear comparison with any of the crack boats on the river. The Ivanhoe is 225 feet in length, and has a draft of 4 feet 6 inches. She has saloons before and abaft the engines, the upper deck forming an unbroken promenade 180 feet in length. The principal dining saloon is under the main deck, aft. And is tastefully furnished and decorated. The tables are of various sizes, being suited for parties of from six to a dozen in number. In the panels running along the sides between the port-holes there are paintings on glass, representing various characters in the novel of Ivanhoe. The saloon is arranged after the style of a Pullman car on a large scale, the seats running out from the sides, enabling passengers to enjoy the scenery with comfort. It is handsomely furnished, the seats, easy chairs, and couches being covered with crimson Utrecht velvet, with carpets and window curtains of lighter colours. The second-class dining-cabin is in the fore part of the steamer, and in it there is a neat circular bar, from which tea, coffee, and non-intoxicating beverages will be dispensed. The smoking-room is at the end of the fore saloon, and contains several marble-topped tables, and other suitable fittings for the comfort of smokers. The ladies’ saloon is a pretty little place, and complete in all details. The vessel is perfect in every respect, and all those who patronize her will find every comfort on board.

Ivanhoe at Rothesay (Poulton)

She has diagonal oscillating surface-condensing engines of 123 h.p., containing all the latest improvements, supplied with steam from two upright steel boilers 12 ft. 9 in. in diameter and 14 ft. 3 in. high. The two cylinders are 43 in. in diameter and the stroke of the piston 66 in. The paddles are 20 ft. in diameter over the floats. The builders stipulated that she should attain a speed of 20 miles an hour, and in all her trials she has exceeded this. Her rate of speed yesterday gave every satisfaction, the engines working smoothly. A special feature of the Ivanhoe is that she will be a strictly “temperance” boat, and it is believed by the owners that this idea will meet with the general approval of a large section of the general public. The Ivanhoe left Greenock yesterday morning with a large company on board, and received additions at Kirn, Wemyss Bay, and Rothesay. She proceeded through the Kyles of Bute and round to Arran, touching at Corrie, Brodick and Lamlash. On reaching Whiting Bay she turned up the frith and proceeded direct to Wemyss Bay. The weather was beautiful, and the sail was a very pleasant one.

Ivanhoe at Corrie (Clyde River Steamer Club)

The Ivanhoe will not commence her regular sailings till 1st June. Her route will be as follows:—After leaving Helensburgh (about 9 o’clock) she will cross to Prince’s Pier, Greenock, and then proceed to Kirn, Dunoon, Wemyss Bay, Rothesay, Tighnabruaich, Corrie, Brodick, and Lamlash, returning via Kilchattan Bay to Rothesay, and making the same calls on the way up past the latter place.

Ivanhoe in Brodick Bay (Washington Wilson)

The Queen’s Birthday Holiday of 1880 saw a public excursion to show off the new steamer.

In Pollock’s “Dictionary of the Clyde,” published in 1880, there was the following advertisement:

The first season had is fair share of ups and downs, many of them dealing with the difficulties of coordinating sailing times with the railway connections. A correspondent to the Herald, writing on June 8th complained that in taking the advertised 9 o’clock train from Central, he missed the connection with Ivanhoe at Greenock Quay, and on July 24th, there was a missive describing a scuffle on her return trip the previous Thursday at Wemyss Bay, where all berths were full and when Ivanhoe ran alongside Lancelot at the head of the pier and proceeded to lay her gangway across that steamer, the crew of the Lancelot threw it back and it eventually landed in the water to the alarm of her passengers. The suggestion was that there was bad feeling towards the new boat. In the ensuing correspondence, it was pointed out that Lancelot was loading passengers from the 4.10 and 4.35 expresses and that the proper procedure was that Ivanhoe should lay off until the berths cleared a few minutes later.

The route of the Ivanhoe was one of the most popular in the firth, connecting the main railway piers with Rothesay, Dunoon and the most spectacular scenery through the Kyles of Bute and along the north coast of Arran. The vessel was well appointed and was a great popular and commercial success from the start despite some loss of revenue from the steward’s position.

An early menu from Ivanhoe

Ivanhoe in Rothesay Bay

The finances of the Frith of Clyde Company suffered some setbacks in the mid 1880s and there was concern that the temperance principle might be dropped but the service survived. As new railheads were opened such as Craigendoran in 1882, the company incorporated them into its schedule.

    

Advertising cards after 1882

The main competitors of Ivanhoe in her first season were the Broomielaw steamers Guinevere and Glen Rosa who, in the face of the new vessel alternated their sailings daily for that season with Lochranza and Skipness as the alternative destination.

Guinevere, well filled, heading to Arran

Guinevere and Ivanhoe at Lamlash (© Inverclyde Libraries, Museums and Inverclyde Archives)

Shearer’s Glen Rosa at Brodick Pier (Valentine)

The following year, Glen Rosa was sold off the river and Guinevere persevered for a number of years until 1885 when she was replaced by Scotia. When the latter was required for the Ardrossan-Arran service two years later, Eagle took her place until the new Isle of Arran was built in 1892. There was other competition too. The Wemyss Bay fleet offered sailings from Wemyss Bay in 1880 with Sheila in direct competition with Ivanhoe. However, the following year, after a collision with Columba, Sheila was sold to the North British Company.

Ivanhoe (Robertson)

One innovation that was found to be a great success was the inauguration of evening cruises as early as the 1882 season. These evening cruises were from the railway piers and Dunoon to destinations such as Loch Goil and the Gareloch. In latter years they were often developed in concert with choral performances and fireworks displays.

Ivanhoe in Rothesay Bay (Adamson)

Advertisement from 1890

However, in the 1890s competition from the new railway steamers began to have a major impact. The close association of Ivanhoe with Captain James Williamson, now Superintendent of Marine Operations for the Caledonian Steam Packet Company, clearly left her as a target for the other companies on the firth. With the opening of the new Manchester Ship Canal in the spring of 1894, Captain Williamson sent Ivanhoe on charter to develop the trade, but the venture was not successful and she returned to the Clyde after two months.

Ivanhoe at Barton Aqueduct

Ivanhoe on the Manchester Ship Canal