FDA-D.1642-2021
Parts
Object number
FDA-D.1642-2021
Identification
Title
The College Boat House, Eton
The College Boathouse, Eton
Rafts
The College Boathouse, Eton
Rafts
Title Type
assigned by cataloguer
Previous title
Other name
Previous title
Other name
Description
Painted view of a river with boathouses on the opposite bank; many figures carrying boats and oars towards the water
Comments
In the 1860s, rowing became an officially sanctioned activity at Eton. Boys who rowed (called ‘wet-bobs’) used the facilities of privately-run boat houses on the Thames.
Between 1893 and 1931, a number of generous masters and Old Etonians raised money to buy the freeholds of boat houses that lay to the west of Windsor Bridge.
Collectively they were run as the College Boat House, sometimes called ‘Rafts’.
Since 2006, the boys’ rowing activities have been largely based at Dorney Lake, a purpose-built rowing centre that hosted the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Boats for the annual Bumping Races, still held on the river, remain here, although some of these buildings have been redeveloped for residential purposes.
Between 1893 and 1931, a number of generous masters and Old Etonians raised money to buy the freeholds of boat houses that lay to the west of Windsor Bridge.
Collectively they were run as the College Boat House, sometimes called ‘Rafts’.
Since 2006, the boys’ rowing activities have been largely based at Dorney Lake, a purpose-built rowing centre that hosted the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Boats for the annual Bumping Races, still held on the river, remain here, although some of these buildings have been redeveloped for residential purposes.
Description
Content (place)
Eton
Dimensions
height (frame): 437mm
width (frame): 592mm
height (actual size): 322mm
width (actual size): 497mm
height (sight size): 261mm
width (sight size): 441mm
width (frame): 592mm
height (actual size): 322mm
width (actual size): 497mm
height (sight size): 261mm
width (sight size): 441mm
Material
watercolour
paper
paper
Production
Person
Davison, Nora, 1855 - 1950 (Artist)
Date
c.1920
History and association
Object history note
Provenance: With Abbott & Holder, 30 Museum Street, WC1A 1LH;; collection of Nigel John Trefusis Jaques (1935-2020; DCW, 1948–54); by whom bequeathed to Eton College in 2021
Exhibited: ‘A Woman’s View: Nora Davison’s watercolours of Eton’, Verey Gallery, Eton College, 23 May to 28 September 2025 (catalogue number 28)
Exhibited: ‘A Woman’s View: Nora Davison’s watercolours of Eton’, Verey Gallery, Eton College, 23 May to 28 September 2025 (catalogue number 28)
