Work begins to rebuild historic shipyard shed

Parts of Underfall Yard were completely destroyed by the fire in 2023

Work is beginning to rebuild part of an historic boatyard which was badly damaged in a fire in 2023.

Millions of pounds worth of damage was caused to Underfall Yard in Bristol by the fire, which was started by serial arsonist Robert Boyd-Stevenson who is now serving a life sentence.

Work is now beginning to rebuild the yard's flagship building The Big Shed and three adjoining workshops, and for one week all donations will be doubled, up to the value of £10,000 as part of Big Give's Christmas Challenge charity fundraising campaign.

The work is expected to take 12 months to complete.

In total the Underfall Yard Trust says it needs to raise £100,000 to meet "modern boatbuilding needs" and improve its community engagement by creating a dedicated community space.

It's hoped £10,000 will be raised this week alone (December 2-9), which will be matched by donations from Seetru, Reed Foundation and Wring Group Limited.

Sarah Murray, Director of Underfall Yard Trust said: "Rebuilding Underfall Yard brings the buildings we know and love back to Bristol but, more than that, it is about what happens in the buildings.

"Traditional boatbuilding and maritime skills will once again be at the heart of the yard.

"We know how much the yard means to the people of Bristol and beyond; we want nothing more than to be back to full strength as a working boatyard where visitors can see, hear and smell boatbuilding in action."

Since the fire two years ago, the Shipwrights' building has already been rebuilt, with boatbuilding firm Star Yachts back at the Yard.

The site's visitor centre re-opened to the public in 2024.

Rebuilding the whole of the 19th Century site has been estimated to cost £2.6m.

The Big Give Christmas Challenge is the UK's largest match funding campaign, raising more than £44.7m for 1,267 charities in 2024.