The UK’s Underfall Yard Trust has reached the halfway point in the reconstruction of its flagship Big Shed and adjoining workshops following an arson attack in May 2023.
The restoration project at Bristol is aiming for an early 2027 completion which will mark a significant step in returning traditional maritime skills to Bristol’s Floating Harbour.
The construction project is focusing on rebuilding and repairing grade II listed workshops for maritime use including boatbuilding and engineering, as well as community engagement.
The completed buildings will mirror their original 19th-century look, with improvements such as upgraded electrical services and large timber doors on the Big Shed to enhance security and allow the public better views of boatbuilding in action.
Construction and maintenance
The reinstatement will also mark a return to a fully operational boatyard; as the biggest workshop on site, the Big Shed will once again be used for the construction and maintenance of larger boats.
Beyond commercial use, the Trust is dedicating a specific area – the workshop known as ‘F4’ – as a community and education space to host maritime learning programmes and projects such as wooden boatbuilding courses.
“It feels like we have really turned a corner by passing our halfway mark,” said Sarah Murray, director of Underfall Yard Trust.
“Rebuilding Underfall Yard is about more than just the structures; it is about ensuring traditional boatbuilding and maritime skills remain at the heart of the Yard and Bristol.”
Supporting the rebuild
To fund the final phase of construction, the Trust is launching the ‘Donate a Slate’ scheme. Until September 30th, members of the public are invited to support the rebuild by signing the back of a Welsh slate tile, or submitting a message to be written by staff.
The tile will then be permanently installed on onto the roof of the workshops, becoming a part of Underfall Yard’s historic site.
The arson attack destroyed the Yard’s Big Shed, workshops and six boats. The Underfall Yard Trust is an independent charity that manages and maintains the yard.
