SS Hilda
The wreck of SS Hilda
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| History | |
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 United Kingdom
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| Name: | Hilda |
| Owner: | London and South Western Railway |
| Port of registry: |
 Southampton |
| Route: |
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| Builder: | Aitken & Mansel, Whiteinch, Glasgow |
| Cost: | £33,000 |
| Yard number: | 117 |
| Launched: | July 1882 |
| Completed: | January 1883 |
| Out of service: | 18 November 1905 |
| Identification: | United Kingdom Official Number 86327 |
| Fate: | Wrecked on La Pierre des Portes reef |
| General characteristics | |
| Tonnage: | 848 GRT |
| Length: | 235 ft 6 in (71.78 m) |
| Beam: | 29 ft 1 in (8.86 m) |
| Depth: | 14 ft 2 in (4.32 m) |
| Installed power: | Compound steam engines 1,530 hp (1,140 kW) |
| Propulsion: | Single screw |
| Speed: | 14 knots (26 km/h) |
| Capacity: | 566 passengers |
| Crew: | 28 |
SS Hilda was a steamship owned by the London and South Western Railway. She was used on the Southampton - Channel Islands - St Malo service until she sank in 1905 with the loss of at least 125 lives.
Hilda was built by Aitkin & Mansel, Whiteinch, Glasgow at a cost of £33,000. She was yard number 117 and was launched in July 1882. Completion was in January 1883.Hilda was 235 feet 6 inches (71.78 m) long, with a beam of 29 feet 1 inch (8.86 m) and a depth of 14 feet 2 inches (4.32 m).Hilda was powered by two 220 horsepower (160 kW) compound steam engines which were made by John and James Thompson and Company, Glasgow. They had cylinders of 37 inches (94 cm) and 69 inches (180 cm) bore by 39 inches (99 cm) stroke. The 1894-fitted boilers were made by Day, Summers and Company, of the Northam Iron Works, Southampton. These gave her a speed of 14 knots (26 km/h). She was 848 GRT, and had a licensed passenger capacity of 566.Hilda carried six lifeboats with a capacity of 348 people, as well as 12 lifebuoys and 318 lifejackets.
Hilda completed her sea trials on 13 January 1883 and was handed over to the LSWR that day. She was employed on the Southampton - Jersey - St Malo Service. On 7 October 1890, she was replaced by Stella on that service and transferred to the direct service between Southampton and St Malo. In 1894, new boilers were fitted by Day, Summers and Company and electric light was fitted throughout the ship.
Hilda had left Southampton at 22:00 on 17 November 1905 on her regular service to Saint-Malo in Brittany. She was carrying 103 passengers. Thick fog forced her to anchor off Yarmouth, Isle of Wight to await better weather conditions. The voyage was resumed at 06:00 on 18 November. Hilda passed through the Race of Alderney at 12:30 and after leaving Jersey behind the weather conditions worsened. By 18:00, Hilda was approaching St Malo. The light from the town were visible, as was the Jardin Lighthouse but snow squalls reduced visibility and Captain Gregory was forced to abandon the attempt to reach port.
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