The restoration of one of Bristol’s favourite and most historic maritime spots has taken a big step forward following a devastating fire which shocked the city back in May last year.
The Underfall Yard Trust has announced that they have awarded the first contract to rebuild and restore one of the key historic buildings at the harbourside dockyard, after 18 months of hard work and fundraising to bring the area back to its former glory.
Underfall Yard marked the announcement that a local company, Stone BCI, will complete essential repairs to the historic Shipwrights building by showcasing a short film about the fire and its aftermath, which showed the emotions of the impact on people working at Underfall Yard.
But now, after that devastation, the start of the rebuilt is about to begin, with the announcement that the first contract and work will begin soon. The work will see the listed Shipwright’s building brought back into use as a workshop for boatbuilding.
It will be the first of the damaged and destroyed buildings to undergo essential repairs, and the reinstatement will allow Underfall Yard to welcome back a boatbuilding business, marking the latest milestone in the journey to restoring the site back to its original and main function as a thriving boatyard.
“To have appointed our first contractor on the active rebuild of Underfall Yard is a big step forward for us,” said Sarah Murray, Underfall Yard’s director. “We are well on our way towards true recovery.
“We know Stone BCI are true professionals and experts in the repair of heritage buildings. We are certain they will do an excellent job,” she added.
“There are a lot of reasons why it’s really important for Underfall Yard to be back up and running again. The primary reason being that the businesses located here are small, independent businesses and they need to be able to get back up and running.
“If it doesn’t reopen, then it just decimates the place because part of what makes it so wonderful is the people, and those people just disappear.
“The Yard is built around several different types of community that all work together. We’ve got our fantastic residential neighbours, the businesses that are based here, our amazing team of volunteers, the schools that visit, the families that come, and all of those people who know and love the yard want to come back, they want to be here,” she added.
The video released by Underfall Yard Trust shows volunteers, staff and supporters talk about the events of May 2023. On the night before the King’s Coronation, troubled Robert Boyd Stephenson started a fire which caused millions of pounds worth of damage, destroyed boats and businesses and ruined many people’s lives.
He had a history of arson attacks and bomb threats and declining mental health, but had tricked his way into a job at Underfall Yard just days before the blaze. He was given a life sentence at Bristol Crown Court in November last year, albeit the judge said he would have to serve a minimum term of less than six years, and can’t be released until May 2029.
Win Cnoops, a boatbuilder at Underfall Yard, and also the site and maintenance co-ordinator, fought back the tears as he remembered the scenes as fire crews desperately trying to contain the huge blaze, towing burning boats out into the Floating Harbour that night.
“You can’t really take it in,” he said. “You see boats burning, being towed away,” he added.
Now, with the restoration becoming a reality, he is upbeat about the future. “So many people say ‘oh this is my favourite part of Bristol I go there every week at least and have a walk through’. We’ve got to make sure that comes back and maybe in a better way, even,” he added.
The man in charge of the restorers is Stuart Jones, the managing director at Stone BCI. “We’re delighted to be working with Underfall Yard Trust to restore the Shipwrights building to its former glory,” he said.
“Our programme of repairs will see it reinstated as a workshop for the Yard’s boatbuilders. This building is a real slice of history, and we look forward to renovating such an important part of Bristol’s harbourside with integrity, care and craftsmanship,” he added.
Visitors to the cafe and visitors centre, which reopened in April, will start to see scaffolding going up and work commencing soon.
Sarah Murray said the restoration work is a ‘significant milestone’. “A huge thank you to our community who remain supportive under challenging circumstances, to say the least.
“The yard remains open to visitors, and businesses are still running here where safe to do so. You can support us by popping in for a visit and a coffee at our café, where all proceeds go directly back into Underfall Yard Trust,” she added.