PS Compton Castle was built in 1914 by Cox and Company Ltd of Falmouth for the River Dart Steamboat Company. Weighing 97 gross tonnes, she is 108ft (32.7m) in length with a 17.5ft (5.3m) beam. Compton Castle was powered by two compound diagonal steam engines, giving her a speed of just under 8 knots. The first of three sister ships, (the other two being Totnes Castle and Kingswear Castle), Compton Castle plied her trade running excursions on the River Dart between Totnes and Dartmouth. Amongst the fleet she was unique, as the first to have circular portholes instead of the usual square ones, and Compton Castle was also the first to have her upper deck extended over the paddle sponsons. Originally built with an open Bridge, this was enclosed at some time during the 1920s.

Throughout the Second World War, Compton Castle continued her journeys along the River Dart but carrying a far more ominous cargo of military ordinance. On cessation of hostilities Compton Castle reverted back to her peacetime role of providing leisure excursions, fulfilling a further 17 years of service. At this time Compton Castle was in need of major repairs but, proving to be economically unviable, she was eventually replaced by the MV Conway Castle in 1962. Relieved of her wheelhouse and deck rails, Compton Castle was subsequently offered for scrap.

Compton Castle subsequently received a stay of execution from the breakers yard when Messrs Baume and Woods purchased her in 1964. After some restoration work had been carried out, she was moved to Squires Quay in Kingsbridge where she started her static career as a floating museum and teashop. During her years in Kingsbridge the Compton Castle appeared in various films, and on television.

In 1978 she was sold privately to publican, Ernest Clayton, who had her moved to Looe. His original intention was to restore the Compton Castle to operational status and offer her for excursion and private hire activities. Unfortunately, the difficult economic climate of the 1970s saw the restoration funds run out long before the project came to fruition.

In 1982 she was again sold on, and this purchase was to be a low point in Compton Castle's history, bringing to an end any hope that she would regain operational status. She was completely stripped down to a hulk, her engines were removed and sold to the Bembridge Museum (currently preserved at Black Gang Chime) on the Isle of Wight, and then the skeletal structure was moved to Lemon Quay, Truro where she still resides today. Once in Truro she was fitted with a completely new superstructure and converted into a floating restaurant. In 1990 she was sold to her current owners and converted to a florists and coffee shop.

Purists among you may shudder at the fate that has become this little paddler, but it should be borne in mind that, although barely resembling her former self, the Compton Castle continues to survive into the 21st century, when most of her peers have long since been lost for scrap.