Brentford’s Boating Community Open their Doors!
You are invited to join us on our first ever OPEN MOORINGS DAY
Meet the waterside community of Catherine Wheel Rd at MALTHOUSE WHARF and TOWN WHARF with support from Johnson's Island Artists and the Brewery Tap pub!
A trail map will be available outside The Brewery Tap or any of the venues will guide you to Malthouse Wharf, Town Wharf and Johnson's Island, which will have some studios open for visitors also. The Brewery Tap will have an exhibition of Johnsons Island art work to coincide with the Open Day.
WHY The Open Day?
We want to show that we are a friendly vibrant long established community that adds colour and life to Brentford. We are keen to share the details of our boat based lifestyle and advocate our moorings as a viable, sustainable and friendly community. Both moorings are ‘home’ to 30 people living on 22 boats and the residents are proud to be a continuation of the longstanding waterside heritage that is so unique to Brentford.
Our lifestyle may be different to the majority but our reason for living afloat are varied and include
• it's affordable.
• we have a low environmental impact in this crowded city.
• boating life fosters real old fashioned community spirit - we are friendly and helpful.
• most of us work locally or run small businesses – amongst us are artists (Johnsons Island), lawyer, carpenter/joiner, botanist, horticulturists, musicians, museum curator, teacher, administrator, gardener, engineer, surveyor and work in healthcare. We rely on this location to be close to our work.
• we cherish the wildlife and the natural environment we live so close to – the area is a unique pocket of biodiversity and home to the rare two-lipped snail. Kingfishers are seen frequently. Alongside our swans, ducks, coot, golden eyes and cormorants.
• all boat residents operate from legitimate moorings, paying the required mooring fees, utility bills, insurance, pay Council Tax and navigation fees that are required by law. As boat owners we have the benefits of moving and changing the view from our windows from time to time, but with a home base for easy day to day living.
• Town Wharf is also a working boatyard and right next door are the large MSO Marine boatyard and John's Boatyard on Lot's Ait. Our narrowboats and barges are a link with London's industrial heritage; without them the canals would be pointless.
Attractions will include a stroll around the moorings and their facilities, some children's activities, cream teas available – some on board, local historians available to chat, a look-in and an insight to some Johnson Island artists' studios, and of course, a warm welcome at the Brewery Tap.
Two musician/ boat residents from Town Wharf will entertain at the pub from 6pm-ish.
Wheel chair access is possible on Malthouse Wharf but for people with mobility problems, there are steps to negotiate at Town Wharf. Please supervise children at all times as Town Wharf is on the tidal Brent River and Malthouse Wharf is on the Grand Union Canal. There are floating pontoons at Town Wharf, and a steep ramp at low tide. Please keep dogs on leads.
Catherine Wheel Rd, Brentford, TW8 8BD. Saturday 16th April 12 till 6pm – then music at the Brewery Tap pub! Admission free. For more information please email sarah_escott@hotmail.com or call on 07956 351253
Meet the waterside community of Catherine Wheel Rd at MALTHOUSE WHARF and TOWN WHARF with support from Johnson's Island Artists and the Brewery Tap pub!
A trail map will be available outside The Brewery Tap or any of the venues will guide you to Malthouse Wharf, Town Wharf and Johnson's Island, which will have some studios open for visitors also. The Brewery Tap will have an exhibition of Johnsons Island art work to coincide with the Open Day.
WHY The Open Day?
We want to show that we are a friendly vibrant long established community that adds colour and life to Brentford. We are keen to share the details of our boat based lifestyle and advocate our moorings as a viable, sustainable and friendly community. Both moorings are ‘home’ to 30 people living on 22 boats and the residents are proud to be a continuation of the longstanding waterside heritage that is so unique to Brentford.
Our lifestyle may be different to the majority but our reason for living afloat are varied and include
• it's affordable.
• we have a low environmental impact in this crowded city.
• boating life fosters real old fashioned community spirit - we are friendly and helpful.
• most of us work locally or run small businesses – amongst us are artists (Johnsons Island), lawyer, carpenter/joiner, botanist, horticulturists, musicians, museum curator, teacher, administrator, gardener, engineer, surveyor and work in healthcare. We rely on this location to be close to our work.
• we cherish the wildlife and the natural environment we live so close to – the area is a unique pocket of biodiversity and home to the rare two-lipped snail. Kingfishers are seen frequently. Alongside our swans, ducks, coot, golden eyes and cormorants.
• all boat residents operate from legitimate moorings, paying the required mooring fees, utility bills, insurance, pay Council Tax and navigation fees that are required by law. As boat owners we have the benefits of moving and changing the view from our windows from time to time, but with a home base for easy day to day living.
• Town Wharf is also a working boatyard and right next door are the large MSO Marine boatyard and John's Boatyard on Lot's Ait. Our narrowboats and barges are a link with London's industrial heritage; without them the canals would be pointless.
Attractions will include a stroll around the moorings and their facilities, some children's activities, cream teas available – some on board, local historians available to chat, a look-in and an insight to some Johnson Island artists' studios, and of course, a warm welcome at the Brewery Tap.
Two musician/ boat residents from Town Wharf will entertain at the pub from 6pm-ish.
Wheel chair access is possible on Malthouse Wharf but for people with mobility problems, there are steps to negotiate at Town Wharf. Please supervise children at all times as Town Wharf is on the tidal Brent River and Malthouse Wharf is on the Grand Union Canal. There are floating pontoons at Town Wharf, and a steep ramp at low tide. Please keep dogs on leads.
Catherine Wheel Rd, Brentford, TW8 8BD. Saturday 16th April 12 till 6pm – then music at the Brewery Tap pub! Admission free. For more information please email sarah_escott@hotmail.com or call on 07956 351253