A New Chapter for Traditional Boatbuilding in Faversham

We’re excited to announce our involvement in a unique project that will help preserve one of the UK’s rarest maritime skills.

Hollowshore Services, led by master boatbuilder Dan Tester, has been keeping the art of traditional timber boatbuilding alive on Oare Creek for generations. With demand for his specialist services growing, the existing yard has reached capacity. That’s why a new workshop is being proposed, designed to improve working conditions, support the training of Dan’s son as a third-generation craftsman, and ensure the survival of this heritage trade.

The new facility will replace outdated temporary structures with a purpose-built, flood-resilient workshop that respects its sensitive creekside setting. For Faversham and the wider maritime community, this means the continuation of skills that might otherwise have been lost.

This is more than development, it’s about protecting history, supporting local employment, and keeping traditional craftsmanship alive in the 21st century.

For more information, visit our project page.