Home     What's New!     Ports      Ships      Crews     A Life at Sea    History     Stena-Holyhead   The Irish Boats    Guest Contributors

Memories & Yarns     Visitors Book       Links      On the Bookshelf      Sealink UK Group

The Maid of Kent

A rare photo of Weymouth’s Maid of Kent alongside at Dun Laoghaire on 3rd November 1979. This was her one and only time on the Holyhead - Dun Laoghaire run but she had previously operated on the Irish Sea in April 1975 when she covered for the Ailsa Princess on the Stranraer – Larne service, also in March and October 1976 when she relieved the Dover at Fishguard. She was a beautiful looking ship and throughout her career was known as the 'Pocket Liner'. © Jack Phelan. 

The Maid of Kent. Photo: Albert Novelli Collection / © Don Smith Pictureships

Maid-of-Kent-III-1.jpg (102957 bytes)

Launch of the Maid of Kent, November 27th 1958. © Roy Thornton Collection

Maid-of-Kent-III-1b.jpg (49236 bytes)

Built by Denny’s of Dumbarton for the Maid of Kent commenced service between Dover and Boulogne in 1959. vRoy Thornton Collection

Maid-of-Kent-1j.jpg (116952 bytes)

Restaurant. © Roy Thornton Collection
Maid-of-Kent-1i.jpg (125250 bytes)

Smoke room. © Roy Thornton Collection

 Maid-of-Kent-1h.jpg (120643 bytes)

Lounge. © Roy Thornton Collection

 Maid-of-Kent-1k.jpg (110448 bytes)

Looking forward along her car deck. © Roy Thornton Collection

Maid-of-Kent-III-menu.jpg (89603 bytes)

Maiden voyage VIP menu.  © Roy Thornton Collection

Maid-of-Kent.jpg (431219 bytes)

General Arrangement plan. © Roy Thornton Collection

 Maid-of-Kent-III-1c.jpg (132698 bytes)

Displaying the new colours of British Rail. © Roy Thornton Collection
Maid-of-Kent-III-1d.jpg (77921 bytes)

Taking the Dover Strait in her stride, the Maid of Kent dips to the swell as she approaches Dover's Eastern Docks. © Roy Thornton Collection

Maid-of-Kent-III-1f.jpg (98622 bytes)

With crushed bows after ramming the submarine pens at Dover’s Eastern Docks on June 12th 1973. The ship was not on service but changing its berth from the Western Docks to the Eastern Docks in thick fog. No one was hurt.  © Roy Thornton Collection

JPM-0879113.jpg (66782 bytes)

First arrival in Dun Laoghaire, November 1979. The ship was hastily pressed into service at Holyhead to cover the St Columba which broke down over the Irish bank holiday weekend. © Justin Merrigan Collection

JPM-0879115.jpg (83238 bytes)

Running astern into Dun Laoghaire harbour on 3 November 1979. © Jack Phelan

 

 

 Matheson-11.jpg (52815 bytes)

Final departure from Dun Laoghaire, November 1979. © Robert Matheson / Justin Merrigan Collection.

 

 

MaidofKentNewhaven261281.jpg (89757 bytes)

On 30th October 1981 the Maid of Kent operated her final sailing between Weymouth - Jersey - Guernsey. On 24th November she was moved to Newhaven for lay-up pending sale. In Mike Taplin's fine photo she is seen there on Boxing Day 1981. On 10th April she left Newhaven under tow for  San Estaban de Pavia, Spain for scrapping by Desguaces Aviles S.A.  © Mike Taplin

 

maid_of_kent_6.jpg (111297 bytes)

© Roy Thornton Collection

 

All content on this website is copyright protected. All rights reserved.

Content on this website may be downloaded for personal use only.  Use of copyright content on other websites without prior permission in writing from the web master is strictly prohibited.

Copyright 2005 - 2008 © sealink-holyhead.com