by Sue Whisstock
Whisstock’s boatyard has been a feature of the Woodbridge, Suffolk, waterfront since 1926 when the 23-year-old Claude Whisstock drained some marshland and built his workshop. The yard became phenomenally successful, building a wide variety of boats, including its own Maxwell Blake-designed Deben 4 Tonner. It worked closely with many notable designers, especially Kim Holman, and built more than 700 boats. In addition Whisstocks bought the tide mill’s pond and turned it into the Tide Mill Marina.
The yard closed in 1990, but its sheds remained part of the Woodbridge scene until just a couple of years ago, when redevelopment of the site began. Sue Whisstock, Claude’s daughter, has produced a useful and generously illustrated memoir charting the yard’s history, its range of boats, and some of its famous customers, including Hammond Innes and Maldwin Drummond. PW
£12 ISBN 978-1-911311-28-7 suewhisstock@gmail.com