The Paddle Steamer Ryde
The PS Ryde was built in 1936 at the cost of £46,000 for the Portsmouth to Ryde service, the Ryde is a paddle steamer and powered by triple expansion engines. She was built by the renowned Clydeside shipbuilder William Denny & Bros.
But after barely two years in service the new ship was requisitioned by the Royal Navy along with her sister 
ship The Sandown and converted into a minesweeper. As HMS Ryde she would served in the North Sea and the Dover Straights. After two years as a minesweeper she was refitted as an anti-aircraft ship, carrying quick firing weapons.
In May 1944 she sailed to Portsmouth to join the great invasion fleet. The Ryde took up position on the western side of the Mulberry harbour at Omaha beach.
She was returned to her original duties in August 1945 and her last journey carrying passengers was in August 1969. It seemed that she would be scrapped until 2 local people had the idea to turn the Ryde into a nightclub. It proved to be a good decision and it soon became one of the IOW’s most popular nightclubs, sadly there was a major fire in 1977 and although the damage was repaired it was the beginning of the end for PS Ryde.
Now she sits on the edge of the island harbour slowly disintegrating. It seems a shame for a vessel with so much history to be neglected in this way. There is a lot of interest in saving the PS Ryde; I just hope that something is done before it is too late.
Not too many pics as my camera was playing up!!