Taunt photo of 1898

This launch was built for a Mr. Clutton in 1898 and was intended to be fast, it was used as an umpire's launch for many years.
The hull was a unique construction and could be considered the first of the cold moulded plywood hulls. Consuta had  four layer of mahogany giving a hull thickness of about ½ inch using copper wire to hold the veneers together. There are over 40,000 stitches in the 50ft hull.

When the launch was built, a twin cylinder steam engine of 6 inch bore and 6½ inch stroke by G.F.G. Des Vignes was fitted, this was capable of providing over 100 HP, steam was provided by a coal fired loco boiler. Consuta achieved a speed of over 27 mph on the River Thames and was one of the fastest launches of its time.

A photo of Sam Saunders and his wife, Sam was one of three brothers. The family originally owned the Swan Inn at Streatley (now called the Swan Diplomat).

The family also provided the ferry service before the Streatley - Goring road bridge was built.

Sam Saunders