The Goring Gap Boathouse in Goring has been listed by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport following a recommendation from Historic England to recognise its historic and architectural interest.
The boathouse was built in around 1894 for Samuel Saunders, a pioneering boatbuilder and engineer, and is a rare surviving example of a late Victorian commercial boathouse on the river.
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Sarah Gibson, listing team leader at Historic England, said: “The boathouse is a picturesque part of Goring and a prominent local landmark.
The boathouse is a ‘prominent local landmark’ (Image: The Historic England Archive) “Its listing celebrates the building’s design and its origin as the early business premises of Samuel Saunders who became one of England’s leading boatbuilders and engineers.”
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Saunders’ boathouse was designed to showcase his business to a growing audience attracted to the Goring stretch of the Thames.
Its architect, Percy Goddard Stone, designed several other buildings in the village but is best known for his work on the Isle of Wight, including rebuilding the chapel at Carisbrooke Castle.
The Thames in Goring in the 1800s (Image: Henry William Taunt / Historic England Archive) Despite its prominent history, the boathouse has been converted over time with one part home to a dentist.
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A spokeswoman added: “The boathouse has had many lives since Saunders’ day – Goring locals may remember the showroom was once leased to WHSmith and then to the Royal Mail when it was used as a sorting office.
“We’d love to hear your memories of this slice of Goring’s history via the Missing Pieces Project.”
The Missing Pieces Project is an opportunity for locals to add their memories – photos, drawings, audio, film or text – to paint the picture of Saunders’ Boathouse on the National Heritage List for England.