JACK MARGERISON
Woottens Boatyard

Woottens Boatyard in Maidenhead is a place where time slows down, and history feels alive. For over 120 years, this family of boatwrights has dedicated itself to crafting and restoring vessels using tools and techniques passed through five generations. Their connection to the Thames runs deep, a relationship forged through work, memory, and resilience.

The yard is unchanged in many ways—the same shed, the same tools, the same passion. Boats that pass through here carry stories: from small ships used in the Dunkirk rescue to wartime commissions for the Admiralty. Today, Lee Wootten continues the legacy, blending traditional skills with modern ideas to keep this art form alive. “The connection with the river and us, it’s unbreakable,” he says.

This series captures the textures, the light, and the spirit of the yard—a tribute to the Woottens’ craft and the enduring bond between their family and the river they’ve called home for over a century.

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