Description

DARTMOUTH

SX874510 THE QUAY
673-1/8/264 (East side)
The Boat Float

GV II

Enclosed moorings. Parts may date as early as 1585, the north
side is probably c1685; major works c1889 by WN Bidder,
engineer, whose original plans and elevations, dated 1879, are
on display in Dartmouth Museum. Built of limestone with some
granite, mostly coursed blocks with ashlar kerbs and steps,
includes a cast-iron bridge.
The Boat Float is a trapezoidal enclosure for mooring small
boats. It is surrounded by reclaimed land on the north, west
and south sides and the South Embankment of c1889 forms the
east side, and here the road bridges a channel connecting the
float to the River Dart. A flight of steps lead down to the
water on the west side and there is a ramp down the east side.
Walls are made of roughly-cut blocks laid to courses but there
are several changes of style. Most obviously the west wall
employs larger blocks and it is vertical down to a projecting
plinth whereas the other walls have slight batters and no
plinths. On the east and south sides the kerb has been
replaced with C20 concrete; the northern kerb remains but has
been covered with concrete; the intact western kerb is granite
and includes sandstone slabs over the bridge. Towards the west
end of the northern wall there is a small blocked arch. The
gap through the east side has been lined with C20 concrete.
The bridge above is carried on a pair of large cast-iron
girders fashioned with a flat segmental arch below.
The Boat Float is the focus of the Quay/Butterwalk part of
Dartmouth. It is also of considerable historic interest. The
southern and western sides were the main quay of Dartmouth
from 1585; the southern side was known as Spithead in the C18
and C19; the area to north was reclaimed c1685. The float was
finally enclosed c1889 with the building of the South
Embankment.

Listing NGR: SX8787351391

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26512781

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Cambridgeshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  The green guide for historic buildings: how to improve the environmental performance of listed and historic buildings
• 
  Yorkshire West Riding: Leeds, Bradford and the North (Pevsner Architectural Guides / Buildings of England)
• 
  Essex: Buildings of England Series (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  County Durham (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England) by Elizabeth Williamson Nikolaus Pevsner(1983-03-11)
• 
  Pioneers of Modern Design: From William Morris to Walter Gropius (Penguin Art & Architecture)