Walter Hammerton’s Ferry

Walter Hammerton in his ferry boat In 1901 Marble Hill House and Park were bought for public use and recreation. In the following year the towpath past Ham House on the Surrey side of the river became a public highway. In 1908 Walter Hammerton (1881-1956), of a local Twickenham family established a business for hiring out boats from a floating boathouse opposite Marble Hill. Being asked to carry people across the river at this convenient point, in 1909 he established a ferry, charging 1d for each trip.

Learning: Transport

Walter Hammerton’s Ferry

Rival to the Twickenham Ferry

1909

"he established a ferry, charging 1d for each trip"

There were many ferries across the Thames in the days when the only bridges were London Bridge and Kingston Bridge.

Ferrying people and goods across the river must have been good business because many rival ferries started up.

One of these was started by Walter Hammerton in 1908 crossing from Marble Hill Park to Ham House. It cost one penny to cross the river.

Walter Hammerton in his ferry boat

In 1947 when Walter Hammerton retired, a song was written about the ferry describing it as “The Ferry to Fairyland”. Hammerton’s Ferry is still running today carrying people across the river.