Preserving Traditional Boatbuilding at Oare Creek

Urban & Rural are proud to support Hollowshore Services with the proposed redevelopment of their satellite yard at Oare Creek, near Faversham.

Led by second-generation craftsman Dan Tester, Hollowshore Services is one of the last specialist timber boatyards in the UK, renowned for the restoration and maintenance of historic vessels such as Thames Barges. With demand for these rare skills increasing, the yard is planning a new fit-for-purpose workshop that will replace outdated facilities with a sustainable, modern environment.

The proposal balances heritage and progress: preserving traditional techniques, creating opportunities for a third generation of boatbuilders, and ensuring the future of specialist maritime services in Kent. Designed with sensitivity to the surrounding marshland, the scheme will improve the landscape appearance while providing essential welfare facilities for the workforce.

This project is not just about a building, it is about safeguarding a dying craft and securing a legacy for generations to come.