The 1898 Steam Umpire Launch Consuta
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To promote the advancement of education in the history of steam launches, by the preservation, maintenance and exhibition of the umpire's steam launch Consuta. |
| 1897-98 | ---S.E. Saunders of Goring built the 50 ft steam launch Consuta for Mr. H.S. Clutton of Cleeve Mill, Goring on the River Thames. The launch was commissioned for use as an umpiring launch at the Henley Royal Regatta. The construction technique was a new revolutionary method that gave a very light but extremely strong hull and is the forerunner of all cold molded hulls today. Consuta was also the first of the tunnel stern umpiring launches and was capable of 26 mph, see technical specification. |
| 1910 | --- Consuta was well established as a regular duty launch at the Henley Royal Regatta, and also supported the annual Oxford and Cambridge boat race on the lower reaches of the Thames. |
| c1920 | --- By this time Consuta was owned by Phelps and based at the Putney. At a later unknown date Consuta was owned by Sims and based at Richmond. |
| 1923 | --- The steam plant was removed at Taylor Bates yard, Chertsey. The DesVignes steam engine was then subsequently used to power some plate bending rolls at Tom Taylor's boatyard until the 1960's |
| Owners | --- We are still trying to piece together the history. We understand that she was privately owned by Henry Hewett from about 1907 who had a houseboat at Hampton. By 1923 she was owned by Phelps at Putney Boathouses, then in 1950's by W.E.R. Sims (Boats) at Richmond /Twickenham. During her last commercial usage, she was owned by F&B Boats (Balchin) at Surbiton. Consuta was finally sold to Graham Lindsay in 1975. |
| 1949 | --- Consuta was used for the first ever live TV coverage of the Oxford and Cambridge boat race. She performed this duty until the 1960's. |
| 1975 | --- Graham Lindsay purchased Consuta from Balchin based at Walton Meadows. The hull was lifted out of the water and so started the long road of restoration. |
| 1997 | --- The Smith family became involved with Consuta and the hull was taken to Kintbury for appraisal. The Consuta Trust was formed in 1998 to take the responsibility of restoring and exhibiting the launch. The Trust subsequently became a registered charity in 1999. |
| 1998 | --- The Consuta Trust was formed and a restoration plan was adopted, the first stages of this were completed at Kintbury. Consuta was then moved to Henwood and Dean near Henley and the final stage of restoration was now started with the help of volunteers. |
| 2000 | --- The Trust were sucessful in obtaining Heritage Lottery funding to complete the restoration work, so Consuta was moved to Kew Bridge Steam Museum in November 2000 for the installation of engine and boiler. After this work she was then moved to Henwood and Dean July 2001 for completion of the remaining wood work. |
| 2001 | --- On Monday the 15th October 2001 Consuta was transported to Wargrave and launched on the River Thames after an absence of 25 years. Successful steam trials were conducted the next day. This was the first time Consuta had been steamed since 1923. See pictures of first steam trials afloat October 2001. |
| 2002 | --- River trials and the formal commissioning by Tony Hobbs |
| Newsletters | --- Newsletters The Trust issue these to supporters on a regular basis. |
Email: brian.smith@consuta.org.uk