Staines Boat Club is a rowing club between Penton Hook Lock and Bell Weir Lock on the River Thames in England. The club was founded in 1851 where its boathouse stands with hardstanding next to the Hythe spur of the Thames Path in Egham Hythe, historically also known as Staines, the last word meaning small harbour or river harbour. Staines has been the organising or support club for Staines Regatta since its inception and pre-dates the rowing clubs on the Putney Embankment listed below. The club was founded in 1851 as an amateur rowing club while a manual-professional distinction applied to the sport, the same early year in the sport as the formal foundation of the club serving Windsor and Eton. The club has membership groups for different age groups.
Location and amenities
The club and boat house is on the southern bank of the river at Egham Hythe, close to the Swan Inn on what was a series of three small islands of Staines-upon-Thames before 1754 and remains its post town, it is adjoined by a spur of the Thames Path, the Hythe towpath, through the small riverside conservation area which is connected to the Runnymede towpath, north-west and Staines Bridge which connects it to the Spelthorne towpath, south. It has a small parking and trailer area of hardstanding. The club has a range of regularly updated and improved charitable amenities including boathouses, a large seating area and hire venue.
Since 1909 its non-new and multi prize-winning successful oarsmen and women may be invited to join the social Remenham Club which entitles its members and their guests to take part in the only such spectator venue with a clubhouse at Henley Royal Regatta, adjoined by a mound and a large exclusive grass lawn enclosure. Remenham membership is limited to some of the older rowing clubs along the river.
Establishment
The club was established with select membership criteria, restricted to men in 'professional occupations' and preferably having already learnt to row at a school. It followed an obscure list of London clubs principally made up of the merged-site Star & Arrow and Leander Clubs by being set up by alumni of schools teaching rowing in 1851, the same year of formal establishment of Eton Excelsior Rowing Club.
