High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Luke & Co was a boatbuilding firm, established in 1829 in Limehouse near London. They moved to Oakbank at Itchen Ferry in 1868 and in the late 1880s settled at Hamble. At Hamble they became successful in designing and building many yachts of all sizes, as well as offering all kinds of services to the then fast increasing number of yachts either visiting or having their berth at the river. The river Hamble was a popular place to "lay up" yachts for the winter.