SS Shieldhall in Southampton
Part of Britain's National Historic Fleet, SS Shieldhall is the largest surviving working steamship of her type in Europe. Built in 1954 as one of the Clyde sludge boats, this impressive vessel has been fully restored and provides a working example of the machinery typical of the great ships that plied the world's oceans between the 1870s and 1960s.
In addition to educational and sightseeing outings, the ship regularly appears in the Southampton Maritime Festival, a two-day heritage event held each summer that brings together a host of activities, displays, and attractions, including historic vessels, vehicles, and fly-overs by vintage aircraft.
Steamship Shieldhall is the largest working steamship in Britain. A member of the National Historic Fleet she serves as a sea going tribute to Britain’s maritime heritage. Operated by a team of dedicated volunteers, rightly proud of Shieldhall’s No 1 TripAdvisor ranking in Southampton, you too can experience the golden age of steam by booking on an excursion or visiting her in Southampton.
As part of your Shieldhall experience, see the impressive engine room with its original steam engines at work and the bridge, with its traditional instruments and gleaming brasswork; admire the ship’s steam assisted steering gear (similar to that used on Titanic); talk to the Captain and our crew and listen to the commentary as we pass the sights of Southampton Water and the Solent.
Shieldhall is available for private charter or for hire as a venue alongside in Southampton, and offers a variety of courses for youth groups and steam enthusiasts.
