SS Kenilworth Castle Archival Collection

SS Kenilworth Castle of the Union-Castle Line, 1935. She was Built by Harland and Wolff in 1904 and Scrapped in 1936. Photo Courtesy of the State Library of Queensland. GGA Image ID # 1f96e7745d

Content Links

• Kenilworth Castle (1904) Union-Castle Line Ship's History (Brief)
• Passenger Lists
• Title Pages
• Route Maps, Track Charts, Abstract of Logs
• Lights and Distances
• Time at Sea
• Fleet List
• Excerpts from Information for Passengers
• The Launching of the RMS Kenilworth Castle - 1904
• The SS Kenilworth Castle, a Well-Known Liner - 1909

Kenilworth Castle (1904) Union-Castle Line

Built by Harland & Wolff, Ltd., Belfast, Ireland. Tonnage: 12,975. Dimensions: 570' x 64' (590' o.l.). Propulsion: Twin-screw, 17 knots. Quadruple expansion engines. Masts and Funnels: Two masts and two funnels. Service: England-South Africa. Passengers: 240 first and 300 second class. Fate: Sold for scrap in 1936. Sister ship: Armadale Castle. Comments: The first two mail steamships ordered for their Capetown service after the merger of the Union-Castle Line.

1935-10-18 SS Kenilworth Castle Passenger List

First and Tourist Class Passenger List from the SS Kenilworth Castle of the Union-Castle Line, Departing 18 October 1935 from Natal to Southampton via East London, Port Elizabeth, Capetown, and Madeira, Commanded by Captain E. S. Vincent, R.D., R.N.R.

Title Page with Listing of Senior Officers and Staff, SS Kenilworth Castle Cabin and Tourist Class Passenger List, 18 October 1935. GGA Image ID # 1f95c43725

Union Castle Track Chart on the Back Cover, SS Kenilworth Castle First and Tourist Class Passenger List, 18 October 1935. GGA Image ID # 1f95687d58

Distance Table in Nautical Miles, Part 1 of 2. SS Kenilworth Castle Passenger List, 18 October 1935. GGA Image ID # 1f95f1b893. Click to View Larger Image.

Distance Table in Nautical Miles, Part 2 of 2. SS Kenilworth Castle Passenger List, 18 October 1935. GGA Image ID # 1f9653c99f. Click to View Larger Image.

Bell Time on Board Ship. Defines the Time and Bells Rung for Each Watch: Middle, Morning, Forenoon, Afternoon, Dog, and First. SS Kenilworth Castle Passenger List, 18 October 1935. GGA Image ID # 1f968991cb

Union Castle Line Fleet List, October 1935. SS Kenilworth Castle Passenger List, 18 October 1935. GGA Image ID # 1f96cc9c72

Information for Passengers - 18 October 1935

HOURS OF MEALS, etc.

In the First Class the arrangements are:—

• Tea, Coffee, etc., served in the Cabins from 6:00 a.m.
• Dressing Bell or Bugle at 8:00 a.m.
• Children's Breakfast at 8:00 a.m.
• Breakfast at 8.30 a.m.
• Children's Dinner at 12:30 p.m.
• Luncheon at 1:00 p.m.
• Afternoon Tea at 4:00 p.m.
• Children's Tea at 5:30 p.m.
• Dressing Bell or Bugle at 6.30 p.m.
• Dinner at 7:00 p.m.
• Saloon Lights out at 11:00 p.m.

The Meals in the Tourist Class are :—

• Tea, Coffee, etc., served from 6:00 a.m.
• Breakfast at 8:00 a.m.
• Luncheon at 12:30 p.m.
• Afternoon Tea at 3:30 p.m.
• Children's Tea at 5:00 p.m.
• Dinner at 6:30 p.m.
• Saloon Lights out at 11:00 p.m.

CHILDREN.—Children are required to take their meals at the special tables provided for them.

DIVINE SERVICE, etc., will be held in the Main Saloon every Sunday at 10:30 a.m., weather permitting, and all are invited to attend.

BAGGAGE.—Questions relating to Baggage should be referred to the Purser.

SURGEON.—The Surgeon of the Vessel is authorized to charge for professional attendance at the rate of 7s. 6d. in the case of first class Passengers and 2s. 6d. in the case of Tourist class Passengers, per visit, this fee includes medicines. Accounts for medical attendance will be rendered by the Surgeon before the end of the voyage.

DECK CHAIRS.—Deck chairs are provided on board for hire to passengers at a charge of 2s. 6d. each for the continental voyage; 2s. 6d. each between England and Madeira, Las Palmas and Tenerife; 5s. each between England and St. Helena, Ascension, or any South or East African Port or Mauritius, and for the East Coast Voyage via Suez Canal; and 2s. 6d. each on the South and East African Coast between any two Coast Ports.

LETTERS, TELEGRAMS, etc.—For the convenience of Passengers, Mail will be made up on board prior to arrival at each port.

All information regarding telegraph rates, postal rates, stamps, etc., can be obtained from the Purser before the Vessel's arrival or departure.

All Passengers must furnish their addresses on the forms provided for the purpose on board. This information is required on the Outward Voyage by the Authorities in South Africa and the Homeward Voyage by the Port Sanitary Authorities.

The assistance of Passengers in this matter is requested to facilitate forwarding any Letters, Telegrams, etc., which may arrive after they have left the Vessel or any articles that may be left in the cabins. Circulars or other printed matter of a similar nature will not be forwarded.

Passengers must apply personally for Registered Letters and Packages to the Purser.

On the Homeward Voyage, on the arrival of the Vessel in England, Letters, etc., are sorted and handed out to Passengers in the respective classes on application. The Bureau is kept open until the passenger trains have left the shed when the Vessel comes alongside the Quay.

Passengers are recommended to attend to the pasting of their own Letters in the letterbox, and it must be distinctly understood that while every care will be taken, the Company cannot accept any responsibility in connection with the posting, receiving, forwarding, or transmission of Letters, Telegrams, Parcels, etc.

WIRELESS SERVICES in Mail and intermediate Vessels enable passengers to keep in touch with their friends throughout the voyage, either through wireless stations or, at much cheaper rates, by means of Wireless Ocean Letters. Full particulars and charges can be obtained from the Wireless Operators on board.

VALUABLES, etc.—Passengers' valuables or money may be handed to the Purser to be deposited in the Vessel's safe for custody during the voyage, for which a small charge is made of 3s. 6d. per £100 upon the declared value of each parcel or deposit, with a minimum charge of 2s. (parcels required during the voyage can be re-deposited at half rates), a receipt being given on behalf of the Company for valuables so deposited.

LIBRARY—The Library is open daily, and the Librarian is in attendance to give out and receive books.

Any books found lying about are returned to the Library, but Passengers will be held responsible for the loss of any book registered in their name. The charge for books lost from the 1st Class Library is 7s. 6d. per volume, and from the Tourist Class 2s. 6d. per volume unless otherwise shown.

TIME TABLES—Railway Time Tables, Postal Guides, etc., are in the charge of the Purser.

COMPLAINTS.—Any complaint should be addressed to the Commander at the time of daily inspection.

Source: SS Kenilworth Castle Passenger List - 18 October 1935

The Launching of the RMS Kenilworth Castle - 1904

The Union-Castle Liner RMS Kenilworth Castle, 1904. The Engineer, 18 June 1909. GGA Image ID # 1f97218ce2

On 15 December 1903, Messrs. Harland & Wolff launched the Union-Castle liner Kenilworth Castle. The christening ceremony was to have been performed by Miss Evans, daughter of Sir Francis Evans, but owing to a railway accident Miss Evans' arrival in Belfast was delayed, and the ceremony was performed on her behalf by Lord Chief Baron Palles, who was in Belfast at the Assizes at the time. Nearly one-third of the total number of vessels flying the Union-Castle flag have been built by the Queen's Island firm, and this, the latest addition to the fleet is the largest of all. Her length is 570 ft., and gross tonnage 13,500. dimensions slightly greater than those of her Fairfield-built sister Armadale Castle.

-- The Marine Engineer, 1 January 1904, p. 421.

The SS Kenilworth Castle, a Well-Known Liner - 1909

Another very well-known liner is the SS Kenilworth Castle, built in 1904. Though not nearly as large as the Oceanic, she is a good bit bigger than the SS Norman or the SS Briton and half a knot faster than the latter, her registered tonnage being 12,975 and her speed 17 1/2 knots. Her indicated horsepower is 12,500—some 2250 more than the SS Briton's. She was built of steel, has a length of 570.5ft., a beam of 64.7ft., and a depth of 88.75ft. Her engines are quadruple-expansion, and she has twin screws.

-- The Engineer, 18 June 1909, p. 626.