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 The saloon steam boat Princess Alice. © NMM
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The Princess Alice, owned by the London Steamboat Company, was a large passenger steamship, which operated on the Thames. In 1878, she was involved in the worst British river disaster on record.
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After-part of the Princess Alice brought on shore below Woolwich. © NMM
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During her return voyage from Gravesend on 3 September, the Princess Alice was carrying her full compliment of passengers. At around 8.00 p.m., she was approaching the North Woolwich Pier, keeping close to shore due to the tide. While passing Beckton Gas Works, the Princess Alice sighted the collier Bywell Castle, which had just discharged her cargo of coal.
While heading across the river, towards the pier, the Princess Alice was struck by the Bywell Castle near the starboard paddle-box, and nearly cut in half. She sank in less than five minutes, with the loss of approximately some 640 lives.
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Captain Grinstead, commander of the Princess Alice. © NMM
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There was a subsequent enquiry by the Board of Trade, which concluded that Captain W. Grinstead of the Princess Alice was to blame for the tragedy. Captain Grinstead, who died in the disaster, had suddenly changed course, and ran directly across the path of the Bywell Castle. There was nothing Captain T. Harrison of the collier could do to avoid the collision. The disaster had a severe effect on the busy Thames passenger steamers, and the industry never fully recovered.
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