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.

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

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...

Read More

Other Subjects

Grove Road Toll Bar

Grove Road Toll Bar

"In use in the 18th and 19th centuries" so the dates we give are very approximate.

Building, Commerce, Transport

1 memorial
Capt. W. Goodley, OBE, MC

Capt. W. Goodley, OBE, MC

Commissioner in the St John Ambulance Brigade, No. 1 District, 1921-1947. Knight Grace in the Order of St John. The Chelmsford Chronicle - Friday 10 January 1947 carries an obituary: "Captain Will...

Person, Armed Forces, Emergency Services, Medicine, Politics & Administration, Transport

1 memorial
Derek Turner

Derek Turner

Was the Traffic Director for London, 1991 - 2001, and was instrumental in establishing, maintaining and monitoring 512km of Red Routes and devising Bus Lane Enforcement Cameras.

Person, Transport

1 memorial
Commander James White

Commander James White

Full name James Keaney White. Took command of HMS Peruvian in October 1814. Sailed to Bermuda and in June 1815 took Major Percy with the Waterloo Dispatch from Ostend to Broadstairs and on into Lon...

Person, Armed Forces, Transport

1 memorial