THAMES WATERMEN: KEEPERS OF THE RIVER’S HISTORY

The guild of skilled river navigators known as the Thames Watermen have been an integral part of London’s history for centuries with their expertise in navigating the tidal Thames for trade, transport, and leisure.

The trade was first regulated by the Corporation of London in 1370. Acts of Parliament in 1514 and 1555 regulated charges and boat safety, although complaints of over-charging and foul language remained rife. The Company of Watermen came about in 1566 by Act of Parliament, which protected the commercial interests of its members, as well as regulating them, and is the only City livery company so protected.

The jurisdiction of the Company was from Gravesend in the east to Windsor in the west. This was shortened by the Thames Conservancy Act of 1857, to Teddington Lock in the west. An apprenticeship was required to gain the Freedom of the Company. A badge had to be worn at all times. Failure to do so resulted in a fine.

Lightermen responsible for the process of lightening a ship of its load were amalgamated into the Company in 1700. The 18th century also marked the beginning of the construction of London’s bridges, which led to a gradual decline in the need for watermen. By contrast, as the Port of London flourished so the number of lightermen increased. In response, watermen banded together to form their own steam packet company. Waterman I was the first of a series of fast packets which were put into service between 1840 and 1844.

SOME LOCAL WATERMEN

Richard Bowery (1677-1736) is Twickenham’s oldest recorded waterman. He became Waterman to Alexander Pope who had a boat of his own which he kept in a boathouse near his Villa. What little is known of Bowery’s life is recorded in a number of letters between Pope and his correspondents, often derogatory because of his fondness for cider.

There was since something of a dynastic succession with generations of the Goose, Love, Barry, Blower, Ambler, Redknap, Hammerton and Messenger families in Twickenham and Teddington, and the Benn family in Hampton.

J Mackinney won the famous Doggett’s Coat and Badge Race in 1885, Ernest Barry in 1903 and Frank Ambler in 1947.

Doggett’s Coat and Badge Race is the oldest annual sporting event in the world rowed each year between London Bridge and the Swan public house, Chelsea, a furlong short of five miles. Named after Thomas Doggett, an Irish actor and comedian, it was inaugurated in 1715 with the prize of a scarlet coat and a silver badge. The race is contested by six Watermen within a year of the completion of their apprenticeship.

The boats used initially in the race were four-seater passenger wherries; banana shaped with shallow draughts able to ground for the loading and off-loading of passengers. These were rowed by one man, using two oars. Beadles were appointed to ensure against the practice of ‘tickling’, whereby the boat was lightened by sanding down the planks.

Until 1873 the race was rowed against the tide and thereafter with the tide.

Doggett’s Will stipulated the cost of the Coat and Badge as ‘Five pounds for a Badge of Silver weighing about 12 ounces and representing Liberty to be given to be rowed for by Six young Watermen according to my Custom, Eighteen Shillings for Cloth for a livery whereon the said Badge is to be put, one pound one shilling for making up the said Livery and Buttons and Appurtenances to it.’

Walter Hammerton won the sculling coat and badge at the Kingston Regatta in 1900. This was another race for Watermen’s Apprentices.