The river Derwent ran parallel to City Road and formed one of the boundaries. A large wooden structured boathouse was built almost right up to the boundary of the Great Northern Railway line in 1877 (later known as the LNER railway) which ran on a brick arched viaduct. A metal arched bridge built by Handyside of Derby Andrew Handyside and Company allowed this railway line to cross the river Derwent. Boats and oars were stored on the ground floor, and the changing and locker rooms were up an outside a wooden staircase. This boathouse was also the headquarters of the Derby Rowing Club and also the Derby School Rowing Club premises. Derby School boat club began in 1862 and was closed down in 1889. Derby School Rowing Club was reborn in 1931 and details are included in a book entitled "1879 - 1979 The First Hundred Years" pages 61 – 63.