Ever since Bristol's Floating Harbour was established in 1809, Underfall Yard has been vital to its maintenance and the city's commercial trade as a whole. But not many people know how. A new year is a great time for a reintroduction, and our team of experts and custodians have created a quick guide that explains just how important we are to Bristol's history. Download our [...]
David Sinden, one of our volunteers, uncovers the mystery of the Electricity Substation based behind Underfall Yard. It may look like a rundown piece of architecture, but this structure was a main part of the hydraulic network of the City Docks from 1906 to 2010. Thanks David for looking into some great Bristol history and the importance of this building to the Yard's (and the [...]
Underfall Yard raises over £20,000 in first 10 hours of Big Give campaign Over £10,000 was donated by 150 people within the first 10 hours, meaning the full match-funding pot will be released. But the work is not yet complete… By 10pm on 2 December, just 10 hours after the Big Give campaign opened, Underfall Yard Trust had received over £10,000 worth of donations from [...]
Underfall Yard launches fundraising campaign to support rebuild of boatbuilding workshops For one week, all donations to The Underfall Yard Trust are doubled (up to £10,000), to help the restoration of the boatyard following the 2023 fire. From 2nd to 9th December, The Underfall Yard Trust is taking part in Big Give’s Christmas Challenge fundraising campaign. The Trust started works to rebuild workshops yesterday (1st December). Underfall Yard [...]
For nearly forty years, Bristol diver Robert "Bob" Broome worked for the Port of Bristol Authority. His working life spanned a period from post-war recovery to the closure of the City Docks and the start of regeneration of the harbour. For most of that time, he kept a diary detailing his varied and sometimes dangerous work. Those diaries are now in the Bristol Archives collection [...]
Underfall Yard rebuild to start in December 2025. The Big Shed rebuild, alongside its three neighbouring workshops, is the final step to fully restore Underfall Yard following the May 2023 fire. The Underfall Yard Trust is delighted to announce that building works on The Big Shed, the Yard’s flagship building, and adjoining workshops will begin in December 2025. The Trust will use one of the [...]
This weekend (4-5th October) we celebrate Docks Heritage Weekend, with Underfall Yard, M Shed and SS Great Britain offering unique activities to explore the working history of the Floating Harbour. Visitors will be able to travel between venues by ferry or heritage bus. But you can also spot another crucial piece of working docks as you enjoy the harbourside walk: the Bristol Harbour Railway. Volunteer [...]
Local boatbuilders move back to Underfall Yard as the rebuild project continues. The historic Shipwright’s building is the first of the damaged buildings to be fully reinstated and occupied following the devastating fire in May 2023. The Underfall Yard Trust has announced that the traditional boat-building firm Star Yachts has successfully reoccupied one of the listed buildings located in the boatyard. It is the [...]
Western Daily Press 1931 (courtesy of British Newspaper Archive with assistance of Bristol Central Library) Yard Fest is only a few days away! Underfall Yard is proud to be serving as a fringe venue for this year's Harbour Festival, 19-20th July. The Harbour Festival has been a key date in Bristol's calendar since 1971, when it began as part of a successful attempt [...]
"Lots of people that I sell to really appreciate the skill that has gone into making the mugs because they have had a go and gone home with an ashtray." - Kirstin Whitney Kirstin Whitney's clay sculpting at Wild Urban channels the classical elements of air, water, earth, and fire to create sustainable, striking ceramics. Her elemental mugs, displayed at the Underfall Café and [...]