Underfall Yard reopens after staff member’s arson

Underfall Yard has re-opened its gates, welcoming visitors to the working boatyard after a Bristol boatyard fire damaged five historic buildings and destroyed six boats in May 2023. The fire was subsequently found to have been set by a new employee.

Images of the devastating fire were shared across social media.

Underfall Yard Disaster pic.twitter.com/6ekFtzLt6l

— Martin Rands (@martr101) May 6, 2023

This is so very sad….Underfall Yard this morning after last night’s fire 😞…@BBCBristol @BBCRB @BristolLive pic.twitter.com/yhQItobvSh

— 𝐀𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐰 𝐂𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐫 (@BrisVADAR) May 6, 2023

Recovery and reinstatement work has been ongoing throughout the year including clearance and the retrieval of architectural elements of the building, by Wring Group Ltd. The yard has remained open to its businesses as much as possible since the fire, with the team working hard to provide alternative workshop space to yard businesses that need it, where available.

The first part of the recovery and reinstatement on site is complete. Contractors have cleared the damage caused by the fire and completed necessary structural work across the three buildings most severely affected – the Big Shed and two workshops.

“Underfall Yard has been through a traumatic year, and we are pleased to be part of its road to recovery,” says Will Raffety, director of Star Yachts, one of the yard businesses.

“The trust have supported us at every stage and helped us to continue working as much as possible under very difficult circumstances. I thank them for their efforts and look forward to the future.”

Walkers of the Harbourside circuit can now pass through the yard on the route, following 11 months of closure. As a result, visitors are returning to the site in increasing numbers with the café experiencing its busiest week since the fire. Barriers remain in place along the line of damaged buildings, but the walkway is open and safe to use. As a working site, the walkway will be closed if there are hazardous works taking place, for example if a boat is being slipped or the Harbour Master team are carrying out essential operations.

“It feels like we have our character back,” says Sarah Murray, director at Underfall Yard. “Whilst it may have appeared shut, work has continued without halt behind closed doors and we have been making plans to re-build with a renewed sense for the future. Opening up the Underfall Yard section of the Harbourside Walk and welcoming the public back in is a huge milestone on our journey to recovery.

“Now that the walkway is open, we’re looking forward to even more people popping in, taking a look at what’s going on in the yard, or simply stopping for a coffee on their trip around the harbour. We have a long road ahead, but this is a real step in the right direction, and we look forward to welcoming more of the public and yard businesses back.”

In November 2023, the new employee – and serial arsonist – was jailed for life (he must serve a minimum of six years) after admitting that he deliberately started the fire.

Robert Boyd-Stevenson had started his job as a maintenance manager at Underfall Yard, just three days before he started the fire on the evening of May 5, using his work keys to let himself into the historic site, reports Bristol 24/7.

He was previously jailed for 14 years in 2004 after starting a fire in Bournemouth which killed a work colleague’s pet cats. And he was also jailed for two-and-a-half years in 2016 for sending a bomb hoax to Bristol Airport.

Underfall Yard Trust is a small, independent charity established in the 1990s. The trust initially took over the management of a few buildings, restored the Patent Slip, undertook essential repair work and let out the buildings to traditional maritime businesses.

Over the years, the trust’s remit has grown and it is now responsible for the entire site, which is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, with Grade II and II* listed buildings.

Main image courtesy of Avon and Somerset Police.