Lallows, 3 Medina Road, Cowes

Clare Lallows was established in 1867 and has been running from Medina Road ever since. They have built many boats, from dinghies, scows, several Jolinas, SCODs, Dragons, Drumbeat and Britannia a double ended row boat designed by Uffa Fox that John Fairfax rowed across the Atlantic. In 1970 they were commissioned to build a yacht for the then Prime Minister Edward Heath. Morning Cloud II was launched in 1971 and was so successful that his next boat was also built by Lallows (nautipedia.it)

Clare Lallow was born in 1843, the son of a shipwright Charles Clare Lallow and they lived at 4 Medina Terrace, West Cowes (which may have been in Brunswick Road). Charles died in 1866, and it appears that his wife (Clare’s mother) Jane continued to run the business, probably with other members of the Lallow extended family. By 1881 Clare then aged 28 was running the boatbuilding business employing 1 man and 2 boys, and lived with his wife Fanny, and sons Sidney C and Arthur W at Medina Road. His mother Jane died in 1892. By 1911 Sidney Lallow was living in Victoria Road with wife Mary and son Clare (born 1906) and also working as a boat builder.

The Lallows business continued for many years and is now owned and run by Lawrence Boarer who took over the yard in 1996. They offer a wide range of services on most types of boats, including specialist restoration of classic wooden boats such as Ted Heath’s Morning Cloud (now ‘Opposition’) and a sister ship, Easy Glider. (lallowsboatyard.co.uk)

Please read more about the history of Cowes buildings with more illustrations on our page Cowes History.