By Isle of Wight Observer
The Freshwater & Totland Archive Group has received a scale model of the paddle steamer ‘Freshwater’, made by local model-maker, Michael Langley.
The project was inspired by the display, entitled ‘Piers and Steamers’, which was held at the Heritage Centre last year.
The model is on a scale of 1:120 with many minute details, and is set as a waterline model, enclosed in a purpose-built glass cabinet.
Michael also presented the group with a copy of the original builder’s layout plan, on which the model is based.
The original paddle steamer ‘Freshwater’ was built in 1927, by J.S White’s in Cowes, for Southern Railway, and served the Yarmouth to Lymington route as a standby/spare capacity passenger ferry until 1959.
In 1959 it went into lay-up at Southampton Docks awaiting sale. In 1960 she was renamed Sussex Queen, operating between East Sussex piers, and finally in 1961 it became known as Swanage Queen. The following year, a Belgian ship-breaking yard took the vessel.
