Working to engage people with the River Thames

Chiswick Pier Trust has produced a new information sign about the historic houseboats moored at Chiswick Pier. Sited on the walkway directly opposite the Pier House, the sign details the history of the eight houseboats permanently moored on the pontoon.

‘Our remit is to bring people to the river and we commissioned this sign because there is real interest in the boats, and these stories will add something significant to the walkway,’ says Trustee Sarah Hodgson. ‘It couldn’t be installed at a better time as the tow path linking Hammersmith and Duke’s Meadows is a popular lockdown walk for Chiswick, Hammersmith and Barnes residents. This, along with the information sign about the local history and ecology of the Thames that we had installed in 2013, tells people about the fascinating history of this area of the river!’

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. There are eight boats in total and the sign details their history.

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