Forum Topic

Maynards boat house

Hi, I am interested in Frank Maynard's boat building business at the Devonshire Boathouse, Grove Park, in particular the period 1900 - 1930. Would be interested to hear from anyone with long memories(!), old photos, records etc for research purposes. I think the building was subsequently occupied by a H R Wicks of the Strand Shipyard in the late 1950's / 1960's and then Bason & Arnold through to the late 1980'sthanks

Colin Davies ● 4526d3 Comments

I used the Wheelhouse Club in the late 80's early 90's.No pictures im afraid but a few lads i knew worked for a guy called Gerry Montgomery. I beleive he bought the club and had it renovated somewhere between 90 and 92. He used to live opposite the club. Have no idea if he's still there or not. If he is he may have inherited records photos from the club when he took it on???I do know that alot of the old timers that used the club now drink in various pubs along Strand on the Green. Might be worth putting a few notices up in the pubs along there. Alot of people have fond memories of the place and would welcome a trip down memory lane relaying there stories and such like im sure.Good luck.... let us know what you find out, i'd certainly find it very interesting.

Sarah Thomas ● 4522d

It was a Frank Thomas Maynard who built launches there....according to Kelly's Directory 1938.I recall visiting this "Boathouse" for social occasions in the 1960s when it was known as the Wheelhouse Club run by a Mr Roy Wicks.It was located at 76 Grove Park Road, W4.The building was demolished in recent times and three slim houses have been built there since.The ChiswickW4.com website carried the following story on it's front page 10 years ago.ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooNeglected Boathouse to be demolishedooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooPlans submitted to replace it with three new housesThe abandoned boathouse at 76 Grove Park Road which stands neglected and currently occupied by squatters is to be demolished and replaced with three new three-storey terraced houses new plans get approved.The premises, occupied until 1988 by Bason & Arnold, were used as a boat repair yard and club. There was also a re-fuelling point for boats moored at the jetty with fuel pumped from tanks located in the basement of the boathouse building.The Wheelhouse Club met there for some time but sadly its usefulness ceased and the once hansom building has been left to deteriorate.A planning application to demolish the existing building and build three new homes was submitted back in 1989 but was refused on the grounds of loss of the boatyard and its amenities. The opportunity to appeal the ruling was later granted when it became obvious of the unlikehood that the boatyard’s business would ever be reinstated. In 1995 permission was granted for the three new homes and a lengthy planning process began.There are already a fair number of objections on a number of grounds including loss of privacy however, interestingly a number of river users have conflicting views of what to do the rotting jetty.The planning issues with be discussed at the Chiswick Area Planning meeting on 16th July 2003 and therefore further details will follow.July 10, 2003

Jim Lawes ● 4524d

I presume you have seen the various paintings etc from the Chiswick Library & elsewhere? You might see whether the online Victorian History of Middlesex has anything to say.http://www.bbc.co.uk/arts/yourpaintings/paintings/maynards-boathouse-chiswick-178964http://brentfordandchiswicklhs.org.uk/local-history/industries-and-crafts/riverside-crafts-industries/  [11th paragraph]http://www.thamespilot.org.uk/ixbin/hixclient.exe?a=query&p=thames&f=generic_objectrecord_postsearch.htm&_IXFIRST_=3344&_IXMAXHITS_=1&m=advanced_sform&partner=thames&s=8lpbtx3CDYB

Nigel Moore ● 4525d