An official source simply specifies the first colour as "blue" and its shade has varied slightly over generations.

[5] Henri, Duc D'Aumale (the fifth son of the exiled king of France, Louis Philippe I, who lived at York House in Twickenham) helped to found the club and was its first President from 1860 to 1897.

The first boathouse was built in 1861/62 as a floating structure and was moored at some point off Twickenham Ait which became known as Eel Pie Island.

[n 1] For a few years the reading room of Twickenham Literary Society was shared as the meeting-up point from 1864.

When the club became owners of the current site the boathouse was put ashore and finally sold in 1882/83 for a nominal £32.