Historic Houseboat Sign Installed At Chiswick Pier

Tells the story of the eight vessels moored by Pier House

CPT’s Trust Officer Anne Gillon with Simon Clarke
CPT’s Trust Officer Anne Gill with Simon Clarke

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Chiswick Pier Trust has installed a new historic houseboat sign on the walkway directly opposite the Pier House.

The sign details the history of the eight houseboats permanently moored on the pontoon. Many more people are using the towpath during lockdown walks and the Trust hopes this sign will add interest to what might feel like a well-trodden route over the last months.

A spokesperson for the Trust said, “We are very proud of the historic houseboats permanently moored at Chiswick Pier. The boats, most of which were working boats, and one of which isn’t a boat at all - range from Regatta, built in 1909 – a steilsteven originally from Belgium to the very unusual Cube, a prefab placed on a 1930s buffer pontoon – a style of housing originally to help address post-Blitz housing shortages. The most recently built houseboat is a North sea trawler called Victory, which was manufactured in 1964.”

The boat images and sign design were commissioned by Chiswick Pier Trust from local artist, Simon Clarke, who is Director of Thames Explorer Trust, and is based at Pier House.

The historic houseboats sign, along with the information sign about the local history and ecology of the Thames installed in 2013, aim to give greater insight into the fascinating history of this area of the river.

The Trust recently had to postpone its December Quiz Cruise with Supper owing to Covid-related cancellations reducing numbers. It is already planning a Sunday Lunch Cruise in January.

The Chiswick Pier Trust runs the Chiswick Pier and Pier House. In this role it manages the commercial and residential moorings at the Pier, as well as venue and conference hire at Pier House.

The trust works to engage people with the River Thames. It provides access to the Thames and support major river events, as well as organising events of its own. It also hosts an annual season of ‘Talks by the Thames’ which highlight the history, wildlife and ecology of the Thames.

For further information on the Pier and how to get there, contact the Chiswick Pier Trust 020 8742 2713, or check their web site.

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December 13, 2020

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