The sun was shining on Portsmouth Historic Dockyard’s Celebration of Steam at the weekend, making its return for a fourth year the most successful to date.
With whistles blowing, sausages sizzling and steam filling the air, spirits were high as the Celebration of Steam featured displays of all types of steam engine, a tasty sausage and ale festival, Ivor the Engine and the exclusive opportunity to view the first complete steam powered factory in the world, the Block Mills, all helped along in history by a host of costumed dock workers.
More than 6,500 visitors attended the event, which took place on Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th May 2009, to discover more about the role that Portsmouth Historic Dockyard played during the 18th and 19th centuries when it was the greatest industrial complex in the world.
Highlights included the exclusive opportunity to view the Block Mills, which are not normally open to the public. Famous for being the world''s first complete steam powered factory with block-making machinery invented by Brunel''s Father, Marc Brunel in 1803, the Block Mills were built during the Napoleonic Wars to supply the British Royal Navy with pulley blocks. The tours were booked to capacity over the weekend with over 500 people taking the trip to the building in a vintage steam truck.
The attractions of the Dockyard also formed a special part of the celebrations hosting a successful series of short talks, storytelling and dynamic displays.
The only setback to the event was the disappearance of the stricken Paddle Steamer, PS Medina Monarch who had to be assisted by the naval tug company, Serco Denholm.
Matt O’Crowley, skipper, said,
“We are absolutely gutted that the Monarch let everyone down so badly and we apologise unreservedly to attendees of the Celebration of Steam.”
To compensate those who did not get the chance to ride on the paddle steamer in Portsmouth, Leisure Steam (the operators), are offering trips once the Monarch is back up and running for £4.00 to those in possession of a Celebration of Steam Programme until June 2009. Normal service will begin from Newport Harbour, Isle of Wight, very shortly.
Full updates and details can be found at www.medinamonarch.co.uk or by calling (01983) 290124.
The Celebration of Steam continues to go from strength to strength every year and is now a permanent fixture on the events calendar at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, so it’s full steam ahead for 2010!
Photos courtesy of Sean Hounsell
