By the beginning of the 1890s, the general standard of facilities offered on-board the new railway steamers meant that the privately owned vessels were largely outclassed. This prompted the Glasgow and Inveraray Steam Packet Co. (Ltd.) to approach Messrs D. & W. Henderson & Co. with a view to replacing their aging tourist steamer, Lord of the Isles. The old steamer, built in 1877, had opened up the tourist traffic to Inveraray from where Oban and Loch Awe could be reached by coach. It had also popularized the Loch Eck tour, connecting Dunoon and Strachur by a combination of coaches and the steamer Fairy Queen on Loch Eck. This provided a round trip that encompassed spectacular scenery on the Loch Eck route and the route by water through the Kyles of Bute and up Loch Fyne and could be performed in either direction.
The old Lord of the Isles (Adamson)
The old Lord of the Isles was sold to owners on the Thames in 1890 in anticipation of the arrival of the new steamer.
The new Lord of the Isles (Adamson)
The new steamer was launched as Lord of the Isles on April 25, 1891 by Miss Mary Maclean, daughter of the Chairman of the Inveraray Company. The dimensions of the new steamer given were; length 255 ft., breadth 25 ft. 6 in., and depth 8 ft. 6 in., displacing 450 tons. She was described as of the same model as the old Lord but longer and broader and the most apparent difference was in the saloons. In the old vessel, these were deck-houses whereas in the new vessel, they were continued to the ships side with the whole breadth of the main deck included in the apartment. The saloon windows were large and the apartment itself was finished in white and gold with black walnut furniture upholstered in terra-cotta frieze velvet.
Lord of the Isles Dining Room from an old Guide Book
Loch Eck route coaches at Strachur from an old Guide Book
Fairy Queen on Loch Eck from an old Guide Book
A patent ventilation system and polished hardwood flooring gave the dining room, on the lower deck, a fresh and cool appearance. The furniture was again of black walnut and the elegantly designed revolving chairs, fitted at the tables were upholstered in crimson morocco. Hand-painted floral designs adorned the side panels of the room.
The engines were similar in design to those of the older steamer, diagonal, oscillating, suface-condensing, but larger, stronger and more powerful. They were supplied with steam from two haystack boilers. On her trial trip to Inveraray on Wednesday May 20, the weather did not cooperate, but despite the poor conditions, the new steamer bested her older namesake by 20 minutes on arrival at the Lochfyneside town. She was commanded by Captain Downie.
Glasgow Herald, June 15, and 1891
Glasgow Herald, July 12, 1891
The route of the Lord of the Isles was identical to that of her predecessor. Leaving the Broomielaw at 7:20 a.m., she called at Partick, Govan, Prince’s Pier, Gourock, Dunoon, Rothesay, Tighnabruaich, Strachur, and Inveraray. With an hour ashore at Inveraray, she then returned by the same route. She would also make occasional calls at other piers on the route.
Lord of the Isles entering Rothesay Bay (Washington Wilson)
Lord of the Isles at Rothesay Pier (Poulton)
Lord of the Isles leaving Rothesay Bay (McGregor, Kilmarnock)
Lord of the Isles at Inveraray (Valentine)
Lord of the Isles on the return to Rothesay
For the beginning of the 1895 season, the promenade deck of the Lord of the Isles was extended to the bow, giving her a more modern appearance. It is in this form that she was best known and most successful on the Inveraray route.
Glasgow Herald, June 18, 1895
Lord of the Isles with her new promenade deck passing Scotstoun (Robertson, Glasgow)
Lord of the Isles (Adamson)
Lord of the Isles in Rothesay Bay
Lord of the Isles at Rothesay Pier (Ritchie)
Passing Colintraive
Lord of the Isles at Strachur (Valentine)
On board Lord of the Isles—luncheon 10-12
Lord of the Isles unloading at Inveraray
Glasgow Herald, June 9, 1905
Lock Eck Tour advertising postcard
Glasgow Herald, June 8, 1907
Awaiting departure at Inveraray
On board sailing down Loch Fyne
On board in Loch Fyne
Leaving the Broomielaw just nine minutes after the Columba, there were plenty of opportunities for racing for some of the smaller piers along the Cowal shore or through the Kyles of Bute.
Lord of the Isles with the shoreward track, leading Columba
Lord of the Isles and Columba racing
Columba and Lord of the Isles starting off from Rothesay Pier together
In 1905, the turbine steamer, King Edward began sailing to Inveraray through the Kyles of Bute in direct competition to the Lord of the Isles. After her call at Ardrishaig was dropped in 1908, King Edward had the upper hand. In the daily race for Inveraray, Lord of the Isles came second best and in 1909, the Glasgow and Inveraray Steamboat Co. went into liquidation. A new company, the Lochgoil and Inveraray Co. Ltd. was formed but in 1912, Lord of the Isles passed to Turbine Steamers Ltd. Thereafter the Lord of the Isles was run as an additional excursion vessel by Messrs John Williamson & Co., taking advantage of the upsurge in interest in sailings from the Broomielaw as measures to mitigate pollution of the river Clyde improved.
Lord of the Isles off Bowling in 1906 passing one of the new turbine steamers for the Fishguard service
King Edward and Lord of the Isles leaving Rothesay together
Trailing King Edward out of Rothesay Bay (Davidson)
Lord of the Isles at Inveraray
Glasgow Herald, June 17, 1911
Glasgow Herald, June 21, 1912
Glasgow Herald, June 21, 1912, King Edward on the Loch Eck connection
For her new owners, Lord of the Isles ran excursions from Glasgow to a variety of places and round the Island of Bute.
Daily Record, July 30, 1914
Lord of the Isles under new owners (Robertson)
Lord of the Isles in 1914 in Rothesay Bay (Adamson)
Lord of the Isles off Dunoon (McGeachie)
Her “Round Bute” cruise, in particular, developed a popular following. In these latter days, the Lord can be readily distinguished as she sported lifeboats in front of her paddle boxes as well as the regular position behind. In 1914 and into the first years of World War I, her destination changed to Lochgoilhead.
Lord of the Isles leaving Broomielaw (Castle)
Lord of the Isles at Lochgoilhead
Glasgow Herald, June 10, 1916
Daily Record, August 7, 1916
Daily Record, August 27, 1917
Glasgow Herald, July 26, 1918
She remained on the Clyde during World War I and continued with cruising in the post-war years, mainly on the “Round Bute” cruise.
Lord of the Isles leaving Dunoon in the 1920s
Glasgow Herald, June 10, 1922
Lord of the Isles at Tignabruaich on the Round Bute cruise (Spencer)
Approaching Kames (Spencer)
An aerial view of Lord of the Isles in the 1920s (Aerofilms)
During the 1928 season, she substituted for Iona as the Lochgoilhead mail steamer but was scrapped at the end of that season.
Glasgow Herald, June 9, 1928
Lord of the Isles heading up-river towards Dumbarton Rock
May 27, 2017
Good morning. I came across a coloured “Timetable and Fare list of the New Royal Mail Saloon Steamer Lord of the Isles” . It was in amongst other items I found in my deceased grandmother’s possession. I cannot find a date on it but there is a name and address on it. M.T.Clark, 5 Oswald Street, Glasgow. Can you tell me more about it. I suppose you have a number of these but it would be interesting to date it. Thank you.
May 27, 2017
The Lord of the Isles was described as “New” in adverts in 1891, her first season and in 1892. By 1893, she was no longer described as the “New Royal Mail Steamer Lord of the Isles.” M. T. Clark was the manager of the Glasgow and Inveraray Co. She carried the mails for Inveraray and had a post-office on board. Franked material on board is quite rare and your timetable and fare list is also quite a rarity as paper ephemera from that early date have not survived well. I have not seen one from that era. Graham
March 2, 2018
Graham your photos are superlative: especially the on deck views of LOTI no2. Thank you for sharing
May 30, 2023
Hello Graham, I volunteer at Inveraray Castle Archives and presently helping the Friends of Inveraray Pier compile a short history. I am reading your website and very interested in your comments on the early steamer companies and their “Lord of the Isles” steamers. I was born and brought up on Loch Fyne, and Malcolm Turner Clark’s sister married my great grandfather’s brother. I’d like to make use of sentences from your text commentary and acknowledge sources. Thank you for a most interesting site.
May 30, 2023
No problem, Duncan. You might also be interested in the most recent post that has some further information on Inveraray.