AD 1934
Johnstone Boat House
EMRC
Presented to the Eton Mission Rowing Club by their President Honble. Gilbert Johnstone in memory of his Etonian Wet-Bob brothers, Francis Lord Derwent (Eton 1864 -1869), Honble. Cecil (Eton 1869 -1874) and Honble. Sir Alan Johnstone (Eton 1871 -1877).
This Boat House was given to the Club by Gilbert Johnstone, the youngest of 9 siblings in memory of 3 of his 6 brothers: Francis, Alan and Cecil, who had all died over a 4 year period, and had been 'Etonian Wet-Bob brothers'. A 2013 article on public school slang in The Spectator explains: "At Eton, a ‘wet bob’ rows; a ‘dry bob’ plays cricket; and ‘slack bobs’ do neither."
Site: Gilbert Johnstone Boat House (1 memorial)
E9, Wallis Road, 127
The first Gilbert Johnstone boathouse was built in 1911 on the east side of the Hackney Cut. In 1934 it was rebuilt in its present location.
From the 2016 Hackney Wick Central Environmental Statement Planning Register: "Gilbert Johnstone Boathouse ... It is associated with St Mary of Eton Church, a mission church set up by privileged Old Etonians to do ‘good works’. It was locally listed by Hackney Council and has been identified for possible local listing by LLDC as the Local Planning Authority. Its significance is primarily historical and evidential, with some aesthetic."
