Underfall Yard is managed by the Underfall Yard Trust.
Members of the Trust rescued the slipway and buildings from dereliction in the 1990s, with support from Bristol City Council, the Heritage Lottery Fund, the South West Regional Development Authority and volunteers.
Following the restoration, the yard was set up as a working boatyard with tenants, including a number of start-up small enterprises. Underfall Yard is now home to many different maritime-related businesses, as well as several clubs and organisations focused around water activities.
All income from the tenants and the slipway is put back into maintaining the yard and buildings. The Trust also takes a keen interest in Bristol Docks as a whole, and in maintaining Bristol’s maritime heritage.
Underfall Yard Trust’s goals for the Heritage Lottery Fund project, delivered between 2014-2018, were:
- Preserving and restoring the historic buildings and machinery
- Retaining the unique character of the Underfall Yard keeping it as a working and productive place, not a working museum
- Improving public access, engagement, awareness and understanding of the yard including interpretation, with opportunities for learning and volunteering
- Nurturing and supporting maritime skills by providing workshops, with opportunities for training and learning
- Enhancing sustainability to ensure long-term viability
The current chair of the Trust is James Durie who can be contacted via the yard’s postal address.
The Underfall Yard Trust is a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England & Wales no. 1041863