Salters Steamers

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Salters boat next to Folly Bridge.

Salters Steamers is an old family firm based around boating on the River Thames, originally established in 1858. They hire boats from Oxford (at Folly Bridge), Reading, Henley-on-Thames and Windsor. In Oxford in particular, punts are available. They also run boat services up and down the Thames.

The firm was established when John and Stephen Salter took over Isaac King's boat building firm based at Folly Bridge in Oxford. They built many of the beautiful Oxford University barges at Christ Church Meadow, used over many years as a base for the various colleges for the sport of rowing. These have now all been replaced by boat houses.

On the death of John Salter, the firm passed to his three sons (John, James and George) and become known as Salter Bros, building boats. In 1888, the company started a steam boat service between Oxford and Kingston upon Thames, using the boat Alaska, previously bought in 1883.

Alaska was built in 1883 as a private vessel but was purchased in 1886 by Salters who used her from 1887 to start their Oxford to Kingston return service. Alaska is stiil operating today under the management of Thames Steamers Limited