THE NEW BOAT HOUSE The ideas lying behind the plans for the new Boat House were that the existing Boat House, consisting of a single bay long enough to accommodate Eights, erected in 1927, should be extended by adding a further bay on each side. This simple scheme was complicated by other factors, such as the provision of lavatory accommodation for use by boaters and cricketers alike and also a cricket store in order that cricket gear should not have to be carried backwards and forwards to the School every day. In addition, it was felt strongly that the new building should not encroach in any way on the Rugger pitches. It was also vital that the frontage should be of pleasing design and a credit to both School and City. The results of all this are that the Architects have planned and produced a building fulfilling as far as possible all these conditions. The present new building has a very satisfying appearance. It has a concrete apron leading to a wooden ramp at the top of which two sets of folding doors give access to the central seventy-foot bay and to the new shorter bay just long enough to accommodate Fours, which also houses the oar racks and a work-bench. To the left of these folding doors is a small door leading to the boaters' changing room in which there are ample pegs and seats for whatever number of boaters are boating at any one instant. Through this there are hand basins with cold running water and beyond them lavatory accommodation. These latter facilities are also approachable from the field through a door in the side of the building. The doors and locks are so arranged that the Boat House can be isolated from the rest; these precautions being necessary since there will be times when the cricket field will be in use when the Boat House is not. There is also a small room for the sole use of cricketers which has a window looking onto the square of the Wightman Field, thus providing a score box for matches. Off this room is a store room for cricket gear. A large part of the construction consisted in making a new roof to span the three bays instead of only one. This has resulted in a frontage with a roof with a much more gentle pitch and therefore more restful appearance. A further improvement is the removal of the old and decrepit but and railway coach which were used as changing rooms and a store for oars. Where these stood an area has been fenced off on which boats may be stood and washed down without interfering with passers-by.
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