ELEANORA
Eleanora – A Century of History, a Remarkable Restoration and a New Life on Film
Media25 Studio | Documentary Film Production | Maritime Heritage
The story of a 1926 Camper & Nicholsons motor yacht, a restoration spanning decades, and the determination of her owners, Simon Brown and Caroline, to bring an extraordinary piece of British maritime history back to life.
A Remarkable Survivor from the Golden Age of Motor Yachting
There is something immediately captivating about Eleanora.
Built in 1926 by the renowned British shipbuilders Camper & Nicholsons at Gosport, and designed by Charles E. Nicholson, Eleanora belongs to an era when the elegance of a vessel's lines was considered every bit as important as its engineering.
Constructed in timber and originally powered by twin Thornycroft petrol engines, she represents a distinctive period in British boatbuilding, when private motor yachts were becoming increasingly sophisticated.
Her design is both practical and beautiful. The proportions, sweeping lines, wooden hull and traditional fittings have a visual quality that has survived a century of changing tastes.
In 2026, Eleanora reaches her hundredth year – an extraordinary achievement for a wooden motor yacht.
But the story of her survival is every bit as interesting as the boat herself.
Finding Eleanora
For Simon Brown, the journey began long before the modern convenience of searching for historic vessels online.
Finding a suitable boat meant travelling around the country, following advertisements, reading boating magazines and investigating possible leads.
Simon recalls visiting boats across Britain, including Wales, before hearing about a vessel at Gloucester Docks.
That vessel was Eleanora.
What attracted him was not simply the possibility of owning a historic motor yacht. It was the quality of the design.
During filming, Eleanora's lines were compared to those of a Bugatti or a Spitfire – examples of engineering in which function and beauty become inseparable.
It is an appropriate comparison. Eleanora has the unmistakable appearance of a vessel created by designers and craftspeople who understood both the practical demands of the water and the importance of visual proportion.
For Simon, that design was worth preserving.
Caroline Becomes Part of the Story
Caroline's involvement came through an unexpected conversation with Simon.
At the time, Caroline was working as an art dealer and preparing to attend an Alternative Investment Fair.
Simon asked whether she might be able to find a buyer for a half-share in a boat.
Although she had little experience of privately owned boats, the opportunity caught her interest. What began as a conversation about finding another investor eventually led to Caroline becoming involved in Eleanora's ownership.
Today, Simon Brown and Caroline are the yacht's joint owners.
Their association with Eleanora has continued through a restoration that took far longer, and demanded considerably more dedication, than anyone might originally have expected.
What might have begun as an interesting acquisition became a commitment lasting decades.
The Long Road to Restoration
Preserving a wooden vessel of Eleanora's age is a very different undertaking from restoring a modern boat.
Over time, structural timbers can distort, materials deteriorate, and repairs undertaken during different periods can alter or compromise original construction.
Restoring such a vessel requires more than cosmetic improvements. It demands an understanding of the original structure, traditional boatbuilding techniques and the engineering principles used when she was built.
In Eleanora's case, the work was extensive.
The interviews describe a restoration involving rebuilding from the keel upwards, correcting substantial distortion and working to preserve the yacht's original shape.
Her teak hull, intricate construction and period fittings presented both challenges and opportunities.
Remarkably, many of Eleanora's original details have survived.
These include lockers, fittings and skylights that preserve an important connection with the vessel as she was originally built.
The deck has been renewed, while the restoration has sought to retain as much historical character as practical.
Original drawings were also obtained, providing an invaluable reference for understanding her construction and guiding the work.
The scale of the undertaking is reflected in the interviews' references to thousands of rivets, many years of work and a considerable financial commitment.
This was never simply a matter of making an old boat look attractive.
It was about returning a remarkable piece of craftsmanship to a condition in which it could once again be enjoyed.
The Craftspeople Behind the Restoration
Over the years, Eleanora's restoration has involved specialist knowledge and traditional boatbuilding skills.
One of the important recent chapters involved C&M Traditional Boat Repairs, based at Harleyford Marina on the River Thames near Marlow.
The specialist wooden boatbuilding team, including Chris Murphy and Malcolm Jones, works with traditional construction and restoration methods.
Eleanora's restoration was featured in Classic Boat magazine in December 2025, recognising the skill and dedication involved in returning this historic vessel to her former splendour.
The restoration illustrates an important part of Eleanora's story: the continued relevance of specialist skills that were once commonplace throughout Britain's boatyards.
Her restoration is therefore not only about preserving one historic vessel. It is also a reminder of the knowledge, materials, craftsmanship and patience required to keep wooden boats alive.
A Dream Finally Realised
After decades of restoration, the moment of seeing Eleanora on the water carried enormous personal significance.
The interviews recorded for the Media25 film capture the emotion surrounding that achievement.
There is relief, pride and a sense of disbelief that a project pursued for so long has finally reached such an important moment.
One of the interviewees describes the experience simply:
"It's a dream come true, really, isn't it?"
It is perhaps the most important aspect of the entire story.
Historic vessels do not survive on craftsmanship alone. They survive because individuals are prepared to devote years of their lives, considerable resources and extraordinary persistence to keeping them alive.
For Simon and Caroline, Eleanora represents that commitment.
And after so much time spent restoring her, there is a determination that her future should involve being used and enjoyed.
As the interview makes clear, a boat is a very different thing once she is moving through the water.
Eleanora was built to be a working vessel, not a static exhibit.
Media25 – Documenting the Story on Film
Media25's involvement has been to record the story of Eleanora, her history, restoration and the people who have kept her alive.
The documentary brings together conversations with the owners, the historical background of the yacht and the visual character of the vessel herself.
Rather than simply presenting a restored classic motor yacht, the film explores the human story behind its survival.
The years spent searching, planning, repairing and rebuilding are as important as the finished boat.
Through the owners' recollections, the documentary provides a record of a remarkable undertaking and an insight into the emotional investment involved in restoring a historic vessel.
The film also presents Eleanora as she enters the next chapter of her life, approaching her centenary and looking towards opportunities beyond private ownership.
A Historic Yacht with a Future in Film and Television
Eleanora's historic character also offers an intriguing opportunity for film and television production.
For period drama, authenticity is often one of the most difficult things to reproduce convincingly.
Production designers can recreate historical interiors, build sets and dress modern locations, but genuine surviving period vessels offer something distinctive.
Eleanora is an original 1920s motor yacht.
Her proportions, timber construction, deck arrangements, original fittings and architectural details provide a visual connection with the interwar period that cannot be entirely replicated through set decoration.
As a potential picture boat, she could be of interest to productions requiring a privately owned motor yacht with an authentic historical appearance.
Possible uses include:
- Period feature films and television drama.
- Productions set during the 1920s and 1930s.
- Historical documentaries and reconstructions.
- Period advertising, fashion and editorial photography.
- Establishing shots, atmospheric detail and selected onboard scenes.
- Productions requiring a genuine classic British motor yacht.
Her value is not simply her appearance.
She has a real history, and that history can contribute an additional layer of authenticity to a production.
Any proposed use would need to be discussed with the owners and assessed for practical suitability, safety, insurance, access and operational requirements.
Preserving the Past, Creating New Opportunities
One hundred years after her construction, Eleanora continues to have a story worth telling.
Her survival owes much to the dedication of Simon Brown and Caroline, the specialist craftspeople involved in her restoration and the continuing fascination with traditional British yacht design.
For Media25, the documentary has been an opportunity to preserve that story on film, bringing together historical research, personal recollections and a remarkable surviving vessel.
The restoration gives Eleanora a renewed future on the water.
Her potential role in film and television may offer another opportunity to introduce her to new audiences.
And in doing so, a piece of Britain's maritime heritage can continue to play a part in contemporary creative production.
Eleanora – Film and Television Production Enquiries
Eleanora's owners welcome interest in exploring appropriate opportunities for the yacht to feature in film, television and photographic production, subject to discussion and agreement.
For enquiries concerning the Media25 documentary or to discuss the yacht's potential as a picture boat, please contact Media25 Studio.
Media25 Studio – Film, Photography and Production