The Boatshed HQ Engine House and Accumulator Tower, located in Gosport’s historic Royal Clarence Yard, is a striking example of Victorian industrial engineering.
Originally part of the Royal Navy’s hydraulic infrastructure, the building now serves a modern purpose while preserving its historic integrity.

Architectural Design and Year of Construction

The Engine House was commissioned in 1862, designed by Andrew Murray, Chief Engineer of Portsmouth Dockyard, under the direction of Colonel G.T. Greene. Its role was to power machinery in the adjacent Mill and Bakery and maintain the yard’s fresh water reservoir for the Royal Navy fleet.

The layout includes:

A boiler house to the north,

A long wing to the south, which housed the Steam Engine itself,

And an accumulator tower forming a striking vertical feature in the re-entrant corner of the building.

Constructed from brick with slate roofing, the building showcases the robust, functional design typical of 19th-century naval infrastructure.

Steam Engine Power and Upgrades

The original 40 horsepower (hp) engine was quickly replaced by a 60 hp steam engine in late 1862 at a cost of £775. This engine delivered water at 700 pounds per square inch (psi), powering:

Waterfront cranes,

Milling and grinding equipment,

Yard-wide fresh water supply.

It centralised power for the dockyard, eliminating the need for local engines at each site.

The Hydraulic Accumulator Tower

The accumulator housed a 100-tonne weight inside a cast iron cylinder filled with concrete and scrap. This weight was lifted by the steam-driven pumps, storing potential energy. When needed, the descending weight kept hydraulic pressure consistent, providing up to 24 hours of operation across the dockyard.

From Steam to Start-ups: Boatshed Today

Today, this historic building powers a new kind of maritime innovation. It is the headquarters of Boatshed.com, a digital boat brokerage platform with a global reach.

Just as the Engine House once revolutionised naval operations with hydraulic power, Boatshed continues the legacy by transforming how boats are listed, marketed, and sold—still powering nautical progress, but now with data, technology, and human connection at the helm.