Site Event/Activity record ECH6875 - The Boat House, Farndon, Cheshire West and Chester: Heritage Assessment (Updated Version)

A heritage assessment was produced in 2015 for The Boat House, Farndon, a derelict riverside building, in advance of proposed demolition and re-development. It is undesignated and located within the Farndon Conservation Area, also lies close to the Grade I listed medieval Farndon-Holt Bridge. The building probably dates back to the early nineteenth century with much twentieth century alteration and addition. The Boat House occupies a prominent site on the north bank of the River Dee beneath red sandstone cliffs and represents a conspicuous landmark at the gateway to the village. It comprises a long, range of buildings with three main elements - a tall three-storey structure probably dating to the early nineteenth century and probably originally a cottage overlooking the river; a two-storey building potentially of mid-nineteenth century date; also, a largely twentieth century, single-storey range. Early twentieth century photographs show the cottage to have had Gothic-traceried windows and mock timber-framing. From the 1870s at least, a boat hire business was in operation, which flourished until the 1970s. A tea rooms was also established. Now the buildings of the Boat House are derelict and much altered and so considered of low importance. (1)