Nearly Half a Tonne of Resin Used to Prop Up London Rowing Club

Reclaimed embankment under historic venue was crumbling

The project will allow the renovation of the balcony to proceed

January 27, 2026

A major programme of ground stabilisation has been completed at the historic London Rowing Club (LRC) on Putney Embankment, where weak soils beneath the clubhouse’s 104-year-old balcony prompted urgent intervention.

Ground engineering specialist Geobear was brought in to strengthen the foundations ahead of a planned balcony renovation, deploying more than 400kg of geopolymer resin to compact the underlying ground and improve its load-bearing capacity.

The London Rowing Club, founded in 1856, is one of Britain’s oldest and most decorated rowing institutions. Its riverside clubhouse, built in 1870, was the first purpose-built rowing venue on the Putney Embankment and has remained the club’s home for over 150 years. The club has produced generations of elite athletes, including Olympic gold medallist Phelan Hill, and continues to play a central role in the UK rowing community.

The embankment on which the clubhouse stands was created in the late 19th century through land reclamation, using a mixture of soil, rubble and construction waste to raise the riverbank above high-tide levels. While typical of Victorian engineering, these made-ground soils are prone to long-term settlement—particularly where the fill was poorly compacted. Over time, this has left parts of the embankment vulnerable to instability.

The club’s balcony, which has deteriorated with age, is now being replaced with a heavier structure, prompting the need for ground improvement works before construction could proceed. “Ensuring the safety and longevity of our clubhouse is paramount,” said Peter Halford, director at LRC. “Geobear’s solution allows us to address structural concerns without disrupting our daily activities or the club’s rich heritage.”

Geobear’s intervention involved drilling small injection points beneath the balcony’s new support columns and introducing an expanding geopolymer resin. As the material expands, it compacts the surrounding soils, increasing their strength without the need for excavation or heavy machinery. “Our process involves drilling small holes and injecting the expanding resin, which compacts and stabilises the made-ground soils without the need for excavation,” explained Halil Kaygisiz, area manager for commercial and infrastructure at Geobear UK. “It’s non-invasive and can be completed in a single day, allowing the club's rowing sessions and events to continue uninterrupted.”

The decision to appoint Geobear was influenced not only by the technical requirements of the site but also by the company’s reputation for transparent advice. Alex Fothergill, director at Fothergill Consulting Engineers and a long-standing LRC member, said: “I came across Geobear on another project, where Halil advised me honestly that theirs wasn’t the most cost-effective solution. I knew then that I could trust him and Geobear. In this case, it was clearly the right solution to allow the club to remain open while the works took place.”

With the ground now stabilised, the London Rowing Club can proceed with its balcony renovation—preserving the structural integrity of its historic home while ensuring it remains fit for purpose for future generations of rowers.