Putney Town Rowing Club

Putney Town Rowing Club is a volunteer-run community club on the River Thames at Kew Meadows Towpath in Richmond, beside Chiswick Bridge. Founded in Putney in 1922, it moved to its present Mortlake-area base in the 1980s and has grown from about 30 to more than 300 members.

The club's roots follow the First World War, when local rowers used Phelps's boathouse in Putney. The Putney Town name emerged from an annual meeting on 29 January 1922. After restrictions on tradesmen's clubs ended, Putney Town became the first such club to reach a Henley Royal Regatta final in 1957 and 1958.

The move to Mortlake took place in 1986 and was followed by the admission of women and juniors. A fire in 1992 destroyed the clubhouse, boats and equipment; lottery funding then helped deliver a replacement purpose-built clubhouse and fleet.

Seven active squads cover men's, women's, development, masters and recreational rowing. Adult Learn to Row courses combine water and land sessions over about five weeks, with graduates expected to progress into development squads. Membership also includes coached, water-only, land-only and coxing routes.

The club lists 90-plus boats, 35 rowing machines and four training areas comprising a gym, hall, balcony and erg room. It also hosts visiting crews for Tideway head races and training camps, providing river access, changing and shower areas, rigging space, a hall, balcony and bar.

Charlotte Taylor won at Henley Women's Regatta, the Home International Regatta and the British Championships before racing at the Rio 2016 Olympics. Putney Town recorded its first Henley Royal Regatta race win in 2018, when its men's performance crew won its opening round.