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
Frederick Parslow, VC
Born Islington. Mercantile marine, Captain of the SS Anglo-Californian. Died in a German submarine attack off the Irish coast. His son, also Frederick, who was on the ship as the second mate, took...
War dead, WW1
1 memorial
Hansom cab
Invented and patented by Joseph Hansom. This horse-drawn carriage, or cabriolet, had larger wheels and a lower cab,with the driver sitting behind, giving it greater stability and increased speed, w...
1 memorial
1 memorial
Sir Thomas Sopwith
Aviator and aircraft manufacturer. Designed the Sopwith Camel. Aged 10 accidentally killed his father in a shooting accident. Expert ice skater and a legend in the yachting America's Cup. Born 92 C...
1 memorial
Underground Electric Railways of London
The fore-runner of the London Underground system. The London Electric Railways Company (1910-33) was a subsidiary of UERL and managed the deep-level companies: the Baker Street and Waterloo Railwa...
1 memorial