Joseph Erik Brown

1889
First mention of Browns Boathouse in the minutes of Durham ARC who engaged Browns to refurbish their fleet of boats.

1975
March – J.Erik Brown who was the third generation of his family at Browns Boathouse died. He had no immediate family and the building and business were put up for sale.

1979
Eric Whiteley, formerly an employee of Erik Brown and now a director of Browns Boathouse, commenced building wooden boats (as well as continuing the repair work). He built Durham ARC a traditional clinker built tub pair – cost £850 and named “Jack Hill”. They also started to build wooden fine fours using a carbon fibre re-inforced structure. The hull had an outer veneer fixed to an already formed 2-ply - the outer skin then fixed with the grain running diagonally. The results were very competitive at the the time as well as proving to be almost indestructible. The first boat went to Durham ARC and was named "British Gas"

2019
Eric Whiteley (now retired) passed away.