Group    From 1510 

Thames watermen

Categories: Transport

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.

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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...

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Stanley Arthur Heaps

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North South Route in Haringey

North South Route in Haringey

Alan Stanton, suitably impressed with this important plaque, informs that the North South route is now called Watermead Way. Somewhere there must be a plaque commemorating that name change. Please ...

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British Transport Police

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Finchley Road

Finchley Road

This highway was constructed in 1835 as an alternative by-pass route to the old road from London to the north, which took the gruelling haul up through the congested streets of Hampstead.

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