Built in 1902, Osprey’s home has always been Windermere. Originally intended as a private steam launch, Osprey became a passenger vessel for the Bowness Bay Boating Company in 1948. It then saw many years of active service before joining the collection of the Windermere Steamboat Museum where it continued to take visitors out on the lake.
Osprey was the first boat to be conserved by the Windermere Jetty Museum Boat Conservation Team, as it had extensive damage to its hull. It is an example of what is called ‘operational conservation’. Whilst its identical sister boat, Swallow, will have the entirety of its fabric preserved, Osprey has been reconstructed to a particular moment in its history so that it can return to the water.
A new propeller was cast from Swallow, creating a pattern from the last remaining Victorian and Edwardian steam launch propeller. The original cabin was refitted to the hull and the forward steering was reconstructed. Navigation and communication systems were installed to meet modern safety regulations for passenger boats. Finally, all the teak surfaces were protected with eight coats of traditional oil-based varnish. Thanks to the hard work of the conservation team, about 60-70% of Osprey is still original fabric.
Osprey’s engine has its own interesting history. Built by Sissons & Company of Gloucester in 1901 as no.591, it was exhibited at the Victoria and Albert Museum. As the museum wanted to keep the engine on display, Sissons manufactured a custom engine for them which remains in the collection of the Science Museum to this day. Engine no.591 was returned to the company and later fitted on a Windermere launch owned by a Mrs Ainsworth- we believe this to be Water Viper, a 1907 boat also in the Windermere Jetty Museum collection. After the First World War, the engine was purchased by Captain Vivian Hewitt and travelled to Anglesey- his claim to fame was being the second person to successfully fly in an aeroplane between Great Britain and Ireland. In the 1970s, the engine ended up in a private collection who restored the engine for operational use and loaned it to the Windermere Steamboat Museum to use on Osprey. In 2008, Lakeland Arts fundraised to purchase the engine so that it could be returned to Osprey and see action on the lake once more.
Osprey is now part of the museum’s heritage fleet. If you would like to experience a trip out on a traditional Edwardian steam launch, you can find out more here.
