Dolly | National Historic Ships

Registration number 19

Status National Historic Fleet

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Details

Function Leisure Craft

Subfunction Launch

Location Windermere

Vessel type Saloon Launch

Current use Museum based

Available to hire No

Available for excursions No

Web address https://lakelandarts.org.uk/our-collections/boats/

Construction

Built in 1850

Hull material Wood

Rig None

Number of decks 1

Propulsion Steam

Number of engines 1

Primary engine type Steam

Boiler type Scotch Return Tube

Boilermaker Ocean Fleets Ltd, Birkenhead

Boiler year 1975

Boiler fuel coal

Dimensions

Breadth: Beam

6.49 feet (1.98m)

Depth

4.00 feet (1.22m)

Length: Overall

40.98 feet (12.50m)

History

DOLLY is thought to have been owned by Alfred Fildes who lived at Sawrey on the western shore of Windermere. By 1894, a Mr Bowness had purchased and transported her to his home in Ullswater. Soon after her arrival, the country was gripped in one of the great frosts. DOLLY lay offshore at her mooring and, pinched by the ice, began to take in water, sinking to a depth of about 40 feet – well below the capabilities of the salvage men of the day. The wreck was discovered by accident early in 1960, during a diving expedition.

After several exploratory dives on the vessel, it became obvious that, even though she was buried in the mud from the stern forward to the cabin, and though she lay in some 45 feet of cold water, a steamer of great importance and interest had been discovered. The wreck presented a finely raked clipper bow with fine gold leaf line extending from the bow along the full length of the ship below the gunwale level and terminating at her counter, thus emphasising her beautiful lines. The salvage operation was completed in November 1962. After conservation, DOLLY was finally first steamed in August 1965.

DOLLY is now on display in Windermere Jetty Museum's Conservation Store Gallery, in dry dock, to preserve its unique original fabric.

Significance

What is the vessel’s ability to demonstrate history in her physical fabric?

DOLLY’s significance is largely due to her age. Built in 1850, she is a rare example of a very early steam boat showing the transition from sail and oar to mechanical power. Caught in the ice she sunk at her moorings in 1895 and her hull was only discovered by accident in 1960 when she was raised, overhauled and steamed again. Her original boiler, which still exists, was replaced in 1975 by a new all welded Scotch type. Her hull and engine are original, as is the steering wheel and all iron deck fittings.

What are the vessel’s associational links for which there is no physical evidence?

She is believed to have been built for the Fildes family who lived on the shores of Lake Windermere, which gives her a regional significance to the area, however her builder, engine and boiler maker’s names are all unknown. DOLLY may have been the first steam powered screw steamer to operate on Lake Windermere as all the earlier Railway vessels were paddle steamers until SWAN was launched in 1869. The Guinness Book of Records lists her as the oldest mechanically powered boat in the world.

How does the vessel’s shape or form combine and contribute to her function?

DOLLY’s carvel built wooden hull has elegant lines emphasised by a raking clipper bow and a long counter stern.

Source: George Hogg, Registration Sub-Committee, National Historic Ships May 2011

Key dates

1850
Vessel built, builder details unknown
1895
Vessel caught in the ice and sank at her moorings in Ullswater
1960
Discovered by accident during a diving expedition
1962
Raised and hauled out at Glenridding Pier Restored to operating condition with original engine
1962
Exhibited afloat at Windermere Steamboat Museum on Lake Windermere
1965
22 August: vessel steamed again
1966
26 July: Royal Highness Prince Philip, boarded this unique craft Soon after this visit, HRH set up The Maritime Trust for preservation of historic vessel
2019
Installed as an exhibit within the controlled environment of the Windermere Jetty Museum halls.

Sources

Brouwer, Norman J, International Register of Historic Ships, Anthony Nelson, pp147, Edition 2, 1993
Steamboat Register: An illustrated Register of surviving steam vessels in the British Isles, Steam Boat Association of Great Britain, Edition 6, May 1994
Sullivan, Dick, Old Ships, Boats and Maritime Museums, Coracle Books, 1978
Pattison G, Jackson G H, Salvage of Steam Launch Dolly: The oldest mechanically powered boat in the world, Windermere Nautical Trust, 1979