As you follow the Thames west, out under Chelsea Bridge, past Putney, Barnes and Kew, its banks become greener.
By Teddington, close to the border with Surrey, a gated obelisk marks the boundary between the Port of London and Environment Agency’s jurisdictions over the river.
There is a weir, a row of recreational boats in the middle of the Thames and, opposite the lock, a wooden Victorian boathouse overhanging the river.
Aldous Boathouse, named after an influential family of boatbuilders by the same name, is up for auction for the first time in 24 years, with a guide price of £450,000.
Built in 1874, the property was originally designed and used as a boathouse. By 1999, it had fallen into disuse, and was eventually restored as part of the planning consent for the Teddington Wharf estate.
In 1999, around the time of the restoration, Aldous Boathouse was purchased by its current owners, who live locally. As keen rowers, they used the property for 22 years as a boathouse, until ill health prevented them from rowing two years ago.
“They have constantly used it as a boathouse, despite various people approaching them,” says Steven Morish, lot negotiator at Savills.
“The seller said to me that someone once offered them £4 million, but she said: ‘What would I do with it? All I’d want to do is buy another boathouse.’”
Approached by a walkway, the boathouse is a two-storey building covering 1,135 sq ft. The boat house room, leading directly onto the river, is downstairs, with the top floor accessed by a set of stairs around the side of the building.
Upstairs, there is a balcony overlooking the river, a living room and a storage room and toilet set in the eaves of the building.
Aldous Boathouse also comes with a floating pontoon — meaning that there is boat mooring available at all tides — a garden and an allocated parking space. In total, the site covers 4,930 sq ft.
“The site is bigger than you realise, before you go down there,” says Morish. “The boathouse only takes up a third of the site. There’s great potential in terms of what you could do.”
There are other boathouses dotted along the Thames, but they rarely come up for sale, says Morish.
“I haven’t sold a boathouse [before]. We’ve had some great weird and wacky things that we’ve sold recently, [including] a sea fort and 1 Fulford street, colloquially known as The Leaning Tower of Rotherhithe. But this is a first for our auctions.”
“This is very much one-of-a-kind,” he adds. “No other boathouses look like this, to be honest. And none have the opportunities that this one has.”
Due to its position, Aldous Boathouse can continue to be used as a base for activities on the water, such as rowing, sailing and paddleboarding, or as a retreat.
“It’s priced as it currently stands: as a boathouse with allocated parking, and as a unique opportunity for someone to keep it as such.”
There is potential, says Morish, for “a new owner to get creative and explore change of use, subject to necessary consents.” But while converting the boathouse to residential use is “not out of the question”, permission is not guaranteed – and would be likely to take a long time.
Other Victorian boathouses nearby have been converted into a house, a restaurant and a co-working space.
“The sellers would definitely love for someone to use it as a boathouse, as it currently is - someone who’s got the same sort of love for the river that they do,” says Morish.
“It’s really unique…It’s got a load of character, and it’s a great chance for someone to potentially put their own stamp on it.”
Aldous Boathouse will be sold by online auction with Savills on 21 November, starting at 9am.
