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Dover: Lock and Key of the Kingdom
The Bessemer
The ‘Bessemer’ was designed by Sir E.J. Read on a principle
invented by Henry Bessemer. It was hoped that her unique
hanging saloon measuring 70ft by 35ft would help alleviate the
effects of a rough sea and so ease seasickness. The saloon
would be worked by a hydraulic apparatus controlled by one of
the seamen, the complete structure resting on a large rubber
bed to prevent vibration. To ease docking at Calais she was
double ended in order to cut down on the manoeuvres needed in
harbour.
From the start the ship lacked speed, managing only 11 knots
instead of the promised 20. Her first crossing to Calais was from
Gravesend in April 1875 but on arrival she smashed into the
pier, damaging it and herself. On 4th May the ‘Bessemer’ sailed
from Dover for Calais, where she again crashed into the pier
causing further damage. On 8th May there was a public trial trip
to Calais and the crossing was made in an impressive 90
minutes. Unfortunately, ‘Bessemer’ entered Calais as the tide
was sweeping through the pierheads, failed to answer the helm
and demolished 50ft of the west pier. On freeing herself she then
crashed into the east pier.
Poor steering qualities and malfunctioning of the swinging saloon
caused the ‘Bessemer’ to be laid up shortly afterwards. The
Bessemer Steam Ship Company was liquidated in 1876, and the
ship sat in dock at Dover until it was sold for scrap in 1879.
The saloon survived the ship as it was re-erected as a billiard
room at Sir E.J. Read’s house in Swanley. The house later
became Swanley Horticultural College and the saloon used as as
a lecture hall.
It is mentioned in a letter in the Times of 24 December 1929:
"its crudely painted classical frescoes have caused a good deal
of amusement to generations of new students. It is never called
anything else but 'the saloon'. The staterooms are used as
study bedrooms; the smoking room is occupied as an office,
and is entered by means of the original companion way".
The Manchester Guardian of 8 October 1934, described it
further:
"the saloon is used as a lecture hall. The old leather seats still
remain in place round the walls, and there are some beautiful
carved panels with the monogram B.S.S. Co. and twisted
mahogany pillars supporting the roof".
invented by Henry Bessemer. It was hoped that her unique
hanging saloon measuring 70ft by 35ft would help alleviate the
effects of a rough sea and so ease seasickness. The saloon
would be worked by a hydraulic apparatus controlled by one of
the seamen, the complete structure resting on a large rubber
bed to prevent vibration. To ease docking at Calais she was
double ended in order to cut down on the manoeuvres needed in
harbour.
From the start the ship lacked speed, managing only 11 knots
instead of the promised 20. Her first crossing to Calais was from
Gravesend in April 1875 but on arrival she smashed into the
pier, damaging it and herself. On 4th May the ‘Bessemer’ sailed
from Dover for Calais, where she again crashed into the pier
causing further damage. On 8th May there was a public trial trip
to Calais and the crossing was made in an impressive 90
minutes. Unfortunately, ‘Bessemer’ entered Calais as the tide
was sweeping through the pierheads, failed to answer the helm
and demolished 50ft of the west pier. On freeing herself she then
crashed into the east pier.
Poor steering qualities and malfunctioning of the swinging saloon
caused the ‘Bessemer’ to be laid up shortly afterwards. The
Bessemer Steam Ship Company was liquidated in 1876, and the
ship sat in dock at Dover until it was sold for scrap in 1879.
The saloon survived the ship as it was re-erected as a billiard
room at Sir E.J. Read’s house in Swanley. The house later
became Swanley Horticultural College and the saloon used as as
a lecture hall.
It is mentioned in a letter in the Times of 24 December 1929:
"its crudely painted classical frescoes have caused a good deal
of amusement to generations of new students. It is never called
anything else but 'the saloon'. The staterooms are used as
study bedrooms; the smoking room is occupied as an office,
and is entered by means of the original companion way".
The Manchester Guardian of 8 October 1934, described it
further:
"the saloon is used as a lecture hall. The old leather seats still
remain in place round the walls, and there are some beautiful
carved panels with the monogram B.S.S. Co. and twisted
mahogany pillars supporting the roof".
