History of Boathouse 4

Boathouse 4 is acknowledged to be an interesting example of industrial architecture in the International Modernist style and stands in contrast to the Georgian and Victorian architecture around it. Constructed 1938 - 40, it was only boathouse to be built in a home dockyard during the rapid rearmament period of the 1930s.

The building was originally to be built in two phases, extending overall to Victory Gate. It was intended for Phase 1 to be fully operational before Phase 2 commenced. This required a temporary corrugated steel wall on the southern side. However the Second World War broke out before Phase 1 was complete. As a result, Phase 2 was never built and the temporary wall became permanent, still to be seen today.

In 1941-43 it is believed that the building was involved in the construction of the secret prototype three-man midget submarine X4 and later X-craft developments. King George VI noted in his diaries that he secretly visited the Dockyard to view the X4 project. X-Craft were deployed to neutralise the German battleship Tirpitz in 1943. 

Boathouse 4 is the last boathouse built for the Royal Navy. However to this day the building continues to fulfil its intended role perfectly, something that its current occupants are enormously proud of.