Jan Harber
Well-Known Member
SAD NEWS FROM ALDEBURGH
On Wednesday morning (April 29th) a huge pall of smoke rising over Slaughden could be seen from Sudbourne, a couple of miles away across the marshes. We soon learned that it was a serious fire at Peter Wilson’s Aldeburgh Boatyard near Fort Green.
The fire, which destroyed the workshop, is believed to have started when a stove used for burning shavings and sawdust set light to the roof.
Several fire engines were quickly on the scene, but the nature of the resins, paints and other materials in the shed made controlling the fire very difficult. Four boats could not be got out and were lost. These included one of the small fleet of venerable Bombay Tomtits based at Orford.
Peter Wilson has been running this boatyard, building, re-building and restoring classic wooden boats for over 30 years so this is a devastating blow for his traditional business. Sadly many of the hand tools used by Peter and his work force have also been lost in the burnt out workshop. Plans, drawings and records stored in the office may also have been affected.
At this time of year much of the yard’s work preparing boats for launching is done outside, so that can continue as usual. There is plenty of local support including the use of a local barn for indoor work until a new workshop can be built.
Let’s hope it won’t be too long before the well respected, and in many ways unique, Aldeburgh Boatyard is under way again.
On Wednesday morning (April 29th) a huge pall of smoke rising over Slaughden could be seen from Sudbourne, a couple of miles away across the marshes. We soon learned that it was a serious fire at Peter Wilson’s Aldeburgh Boatyard near Fort Green.
The fire, which destroyed the workshop, is believed to have started when a stove used for burning shavings and sawdust set light to the roof.
Several fire engines were quickly on the scene, but the nature of the resins, paints and other materials in the shed made controlling the fire very difficult. Four boats could not be got out and were lost. These included one of the small fleet of venerable Bombay Tomtits based at Orford.
Peter Wilson has been running this boatyard, building, re-building and restoring classic wooden boats for over 30 years so this is a devastating blow for his traditional business. Sadly many of the hand tools used by Peter and his work force have also been lost in the burnt out workshop. Plans, drawings and records stored in the office may also have been affected.
At this time of year much of the yard’s work preparing boats for launching is done outside, so that can continue as usual. There is plenty of local support including the use of a local barn for indoor work until a new workshop can be built.
Let’s hope it won’t be too long before the well respected, and in many ways unique, Aldeburgh Boatyard is under way again.