Tom Tagg came from a well known river and waterman’s family. His brothers Harry and Sam took over Tom, their father’s business and Tom Junior branched out on his own on what became known as Tagg’s Island. In 1872 he took over the licence of the Anglers Retreat on the island and built the Island Hotel to replace it.

Within 7 years his business was described as one of the ten “principal yards” on the Thames. The island hotel was “much resorted to by literary and theatrical celebrities” and Sarah Bernhardt was a reputedly a great admirer and frequenter of “Tagg’s”. 

Tagg’s fame spread and he built boats for Russian royalty and shipped orders to Rangoon and Sri Lanka amongst other far flung places. He built some large boats including an 85 ft steam launch which carried up to 100 passengers, leaving room for a piano.

The firm became boat, punt and steam launch builders to the Queen and won numerous medals in this country and abroad.