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Over 100
years ago, the area around
Withymead was a thriving
boatyard employing a local
workforce of over 30 people. It
is believed that the company was
founded by Cornelius Saunders in
1870 in Goring but was moved to
the South Stoke site in 1882 by
his son, Samuel Saunders.
In the early days the boat yard
was called Springfield Works.
Between 1882 to 1912 S. E.
Saunders was a thriving boatyard
building steam powered launches
and larger river craft for
governments and the rich and
famous. In 1906 Saunders was
reported to be building a boat
propelled by the reaction of air
jets and floating on a cushion
of air.
The yard was sold to Hobbs of
Henley when Saunders moved to
the Isle of Wight. Saunders
continued to build boats, but
also turned his attention to
aviation, and in 1929 was joined
at Cowes by Sir A.V. Roe and
together they set up the
Saunders-Roe Company, famous for
its flying boats, sea planes and
hydroplanes, later to be renamed
the British Hovercraft
Corporation in 1957.
The information and pictures
are taken from the Goring and
Streatley Local History Society
archives, with their kind
permission.
To arrange a visit phone
01491
872265 or email
info@withymead.co.uk |
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