Final stage of historic boatyard's restoration to begin

Restoration work has been taking place since 2024

Work is set to begin on the final stage of restoring a historic boatyard that was destroyed in a fire.

Rebuilding the Big Shed and adjoining workshops will start in December and is expected to take about a year to complete. But the Underfall Yard Trust still needs to raise £100,000 for the work.

Sarah Murray, trust director, said: "We're really down to the final push now and we know that, together, we can achieve the rebuild of Underfall Yard."

Robert Boyd-Stevenson, a serial arsonist who started the fire, was jailed for life. He had been working at the boatyard for three days as a maintenance coordinator when he lit the fire in May 2023.

Educational workshops will be held in The Big Shed, the Yard's flagship building, once the rebuild is complete

It caused millions of pounds worth of damage, destroying the Big Shed, boats and led to residents being evacuated.

Rebuilding the 19th Century yard has been estimated to cost £2.6m, with the majority of the work now completed. The site's visitor centre re-opened to the public in 2024.

During the latest phase, one of workshops will be used to deliver new education programmes on boatbuilding.

Ms Murray added: "We know that the whole of Bristol is right there with us, wanting nothing more than for Underfall Yard to return to a proper, working boatyard."

Maurice King, project lead at Alec French Architects - the firm overseeing the latest phase of the Underfall Yard redevelopment - said the yard is "one of the last remaining complete Victorian docks maintenance facilities in the world".

"It is vital that Bristol's heritage is recognised and protected," added Mr King.

Throughout the works, Underfall Yard, the Visitor Centre and Underfall Cafe will remain open.