News / underfall yard
Underfall Yard trustees ‘committed to rebuilding’ after fire
The trustees of Underfall Yard say they are “absolutely committed to rebuilding” and continuing the work of the charity following Saturday’s devastating fire.
“A big part of the heart of Underfall Yard has been burnt out,” said Ian Wilkinson, chair of the Underfall Yard Trust, who helped 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.
He said that “the whole Underfall Yard community is reeling” following the fire in the main boatbuilding shed.
is needed now More than ever
In a statement published on their social media accounts, the trustees said: “We are devastated by the fire at the Underfall Yard.
“The fire has destroyed the heart of the Yard where most of the boat building activity takes place.
“Tenants’ businesses and boats have been ruined. We are supporting our tenants as best we can.
“Thankfully no one was killed and no one was injured, but a lot of people in the Underfall Yard community have been impacted: our staff, our tenants, our volunteers and our neighbours on Avon Crescent and Nova Scotia Place and our hearts are with them.
“We are grateful for everyone’s cooperation, particularly those who were evacuated as the fire service fought the fire.
“We are so grateful to the fire service who stopped this being a greater disaster and for the support of the Harbour Master Team.
“The Underfall Yard Trust was formed in the 1990s to bring the Underfall Yard out of dereliction, to look after the historic buildings, to shine a light on Bristol’s engineering harbour heritage and to promote traditional marine skills.
“In light of the devastation at the Yard, those aims remain as relevant now as they were then. We absolutely are committed to rebuilding the Underfall Yard and continuing the charity’s work.”
Main photo: Martin Booth
Read next:
- Serious fire breaks out at Underfall Yard
- Sadness across city following fire at Underfall Yard
- Underfall Yard: Brunel’s secret Bristol legacy
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