From the earliest days until the mid-18th century the Thames was the preferred route for travelling east-west across London, and a barrier which had to be crossed by boat to travel north-south. By boat, because the roads were very poor and there was only one bridge. In 1510 Henry VIII set up a licencing system for watermen, or wherrymen, and in 1555 the watermen were incorporated to control tariffs and impose safety regulations. In 1700 the watermen joined forces with the lightermen (who carried cargo rather than passengers) to form the Company of Watermen and Lightermen. See also Doggett's Coat and Badge.
This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Thames watermen
Commemorated ati
wherrymen seat
{On the modern plaque above:} The Ferryman's seat located on previous buildin...
Other Subjects
Deptford Creek bridge
From the magnificent Edith Streets: The Bridge, with its control tower alongside, was opened in 1954. The first footbridge was built in 1804, and the first road bridge in 1815. The bridge lifts le...
Avro No. 1 Triplane
Airplane designed and built by Alliott Verdon Roe. The first all-British aircraft, its maiden flight took place on Walthamstow Marshes. The photograph shows Roe standing by the plane. We guess Roe ...
West Brompton Station
A station was first opened here as part of the West London Extension Joint Railway (WLER). In 1869 the Metropolitan District Railway (MDR) opened its own station (pictured, still in use and now Lis...
Whitechapel and Bow Railway
A former underground railway in East London, It was a joint venture between the District Railway and the London, Tilbury and Southend Railway. It is now entirely integrated into the London Undergro...
Red Cross Street
Used to run from the Beech Street / Golden Lane junction, where there was a red cross, due south to St Giles Cripplegate at Fore Street. Londonist have found a map that shows the Barbican overlai...
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