The Boat Float
THE BOAT FLOAT, SOUTH EMBANKMENT
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1218121
- Date first listed:
- 23-Feb-1994
- List Entry Name:
- The Boat Float
- Statutory Address:
- THE BOAT FLOAT, SOUTH EMBANKMENT
Location
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Images of England Project
- Date:
- 2006-09-10
- Reference:
- IOE01/15745/14
- Rights:
- © Mr Robert W Keniston. Source: Historic England Archive
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1218121
- Date first listed:
- 23-Feb-1994
- List Entry Name:
- The Boat Float
- Statutory Address 1:
- THE BOAT FLOAT, SOUTH EMBANKMENT
- Statutory Address 2:
- THE BOAT FLOAT, THE QUAY
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
Location
- Statutory Address:
- THE BOAT FLOAT, SOUTH EMBANKMENT
- Statutory Address:
- THE BOAT FLOAT, THE QUAY
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- County:
- Devon
- District:
- South Hams (District Authority)
- Parish:
- Dartmouth
- National Grid Reference:
- SX 87873 51391
Details
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
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 387371
- Legacy System:
- LBS
Legal
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
Map
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 09-Jun-2026 at 14:06:18.
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