History
LET MAID OF THE LOCH, TAKE YOU ON A VIRTUAL CRUISE ROUND THE BONNIE BANKS!
Fancy a virtual day out on Loch Lomond by the “new” paddle steamer Maid of the Loch?
Almost 70 years ago, on 25th May 1953, the Maid made her first-ever public cruise on Loch Lomond.
We are offering you the chance to re-create that day by stepping back in time and experiencing the joys of the Bonnie Banks from this historic steamship.
When you buy a ticket you will be sent a code for accessing the Virtual Cruise.
Buy a ticket and help SAVE THE MAID for future generations!
THE SHIP THEY BUILT TWICE!
AN 'UP AND DOON' VESSEL
The Maid is the very last paddle steamer to be built in Britain, and is the UK’s only remaining example of an ‘Up an Doon’ Vessel - A ship that’s been built twice!
The Maid in 1953
Assembled in the Glasgow shipyard of A&J Inglis, the Paddle Steamer Maid of the Loch was first of all bolted together and then taken apart, transported to her new home in Balloch on rail wagons and reassembled on the Balloch Slipway before her launch into the sparkling waters of Loch Lomond on Thursday 5th March 1953.
Loch Lomond’s largest Steamer
Licensed to carry 1,000 passengers, she was the largest paddle steamer to sail on Loch Lomond and was host to royal guests and celebrities as well as three million day-trippers during her 28 years on the water. Many of these people have very cherished memories of sailing on the Maid and many more know of the ship by hearing about these memories from older friends and relatives. Dates, engagements, weddings and wakes – the Maid has hosted them all!
The End of a Golden Era
The Maid’s popularity as a pleasure steamer was at its height in the 1950s and early 1960s. But as the lure of affordable foreign travel beckoned, so passenger numbers and revenue dwindled. Decommissioned in 1981, the Maid was subjected to a sorry period of neglect, decay and vandalism until her purchase, in 1992, by Dumbarton District Council.
Loch Lomond’s Last Steamer
Advertised as having ‘commodious saloons’ and serving ‘lunches and teas of the highest quality at popular prices’ she was the last (and largest) in a long line of paddle steamers to sail on Loch Lomond. For 28 years, she gave great pleasure to millions of visitors who enjoyed sailing on the ship and exploring the villages and climbing the hills around the shores.
A Lifeline
It was in 1996 when, on the point of dereliction, she was rescued by the very determined volunteers of the Loch Lomond Steamship Company, who continue to take care of her to this day. An ambitious rescue mission, where the aim was always to return the ship to sailing again on the Loch, was launched. Since then our charity, staffed entirely by volunteers, has raised over £2m and invested this in the first stages of the Maid’s conservation.
Following a successful HLF bid in 2015, we undertook to raise £1.7m in order to release substantial Heritage Lottery Funding funding which would have allowed us to return our Maid to full steam operation. We did manage to raise that amazing amount but sadly, in Autumn 2018, we were not awarded any funding by the Heritage Lottery Fund.
Previous Refurbishment Work
Loch Lomond Steamship Company has however, had substantial support from the Scottish Government Capital Grant Regeneration Fund of £950,000 along with £50,000 from the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society.
This funding allowed major work to the engine and installation of a package boiler on the pier that provides enough steam pressure to move the pistons and subsequently the paddle wheels - so we are confident the engine functions after a long time lying dormant. The Queens Lounge and the Aft Deck Saloon were both refurbished to provide ideal spaces for all sorts of celebrations, performances, educational workshops etc. A lift was installed between the promenade deck and the main deck so everyone can enjoy “going down to see the engines” once more.
Work has commenced on a refurbishment of the Forward Dining Saloon which aims to improve this space and to reinstate the large mirror on the forward bulkhead. This is a £85,000 project funded by private individuals, The Headley Trust, EB Scotland and The Pilgrim Trust.
See Restoration page for more recent news.
We still need £4-5m to make the Maid shipshape again and ready for sailing well into the future on our lovely Loch Lomond.
Crowdfunding film
Watch our special crowdfunding film, presented by legendary Scottish actor and Maid supporter Bill Paterson.
Original music for the film was kindly composed and performed by Maid supporters Phil Cunningham and Ally Bain.