The barge has been such an iconic part of the view, but the time has come for her to get a new lease of life. The hotel, situated along the river Thames, previously used the barge as a wedding venue, but says it is now in desperate need of restoration which it is unable to provide. The historic barge was bought on 20th September from The Swan hotel at Streatley by professional boat builder Paul Austin-Clark, who plans to restore the boat to its former glory and reopen it as an educational and recreational facility. The Magdalen College Barge has now moved to its new mooring at Hardwick House on the River Thames