P & A Campbell was a shipping company based in Bristol which operated steamship services in the Bristol Channel between 1893 and 1979.
History
In the early 19th century, steamships were introduced to Europe with Clyde steamer sailings which grew rapidly, with many private shipowners taking trippers and commuters from Glasgow down the River Clyde to previously remote areas where holiday houses had been developed around the Firth of Clyde. Robert Campbell, known as "Captain Bob", came from a family associated with sailings to the Gare Loch. In 1854 he became master of the Gareloch steamboat Duchess of Argyle bought by two of his uncles, and developed a good public reputation as captain of successive ships as their fleet took on sailings from Kilmun on the Holy Loch. In 1864 one was sold as a Confederate blockade runner; its replacement, Vivid, was built to run "in connection with the express trains on the Greenock Railway". [1]
Captain Bob Campbell's sons Peter and Alexander Campbell were also captains, and when he suffered long-term illness they took over running of the fleet. In 1887 their paddle steamer Waverley was taken by Peter to the Bristol Channel on a charter, with great success,[1]