The club is based in the old Halton railway station and trains on a 3 km stretch of the River Lune, 3 miles north of Lancaster.

Due to the limited available assistance of the university and the students' union, the group decided to seek outside help to get the club moving.

This help came in the form of a wealthy benefactor, Sir Harold Parkinson, who provided the club with the funds to purchase its first boats and a coaching launch.

After two years of sharing John O’Gaunt's boathouse, the club moved to its current location, the old Halton railway station in 1966.

Parkinson also funded the building of the Halton weir, 100m upstream of club's boathouse, in order to enable better conditions for rowing.

The race is in memory of ex-club captain Francis Russel who lost his life in 1989 after going over the Skerton Weir in a November training session.

In December 2015 the effects of Storm Desmond caused the River Lune to flood much of the City of Lancaster and surrounding area, with the University's Boat House being flooded by several feet of water causing damage to much of the fleet of boats, and resulting in a severe disruption to the clubs rowing calendar.

When restrictions were eased the club returned to the water, but with the indoor changing rooms in the boat house closed to ensure social distancing guidelines were adhered to.

[1] Plans existed in the late 20th century for a shared boathouse with the other clubs using the river, John O' Gaunt RC and Lancaster Royal Grammar School BC.