WATERMEN

See Also: CITY LIVERY COMPANIES The Watermen & Lightermen's Company; FLOWERS The Knollys Rose Ceremony; TAXIS; THE THAMES; THEATRE RELATED; TRANSPORT; WATERGATES; THE WATERMAN POET

Doggett's Coat & Badge Race

The Doggett's Coat & Badge Race is a rowing competition that is over a century older than the Oxford & Cambridge Boat Race. The contest was established by Thomas Doggett, an actor-manager. As a theatre manager, he was dependent upon the court's good graces for his licence to run his establishment. In 1714 the Hanoverian dynasty succeeded to the British throne. It made good business sense for Doggett, quite besides any sincere feelings he may have had, to flatter them. He did this by establishing an annual race for the Thames watermen (the taxi drivers of the day). The contest's prize, the Coat & Badge, bore on them a white horse, the heraldic symbol of the Hanoverians.

The first Doggett's Coat & Badge Race was rowed in August 1716. The original course ran from London Bridge to Chelsea, a distance of 4.5 miles (7.2km.). The Old Swan Inn in Chelsea was the original finishing post for the contest; Old Swan House marks what was the site.

The Race is held in late July each year. It is organised by the Company of Fishmongers.

Location: Doggett's Coat & Badge, 1 Blackfriars Bridge, SE1 9UD. (A pub.)

Old Swan House, 17 Chelsea Embankment, SW3 4LA (orange, red)

See Also: CITY LIVERY COMPANIES The Fishmongers Company; PHILANTHROPY Alleyn s College of God's Gift; ROWING The Oxford & Cambridge Boat Race; THEATRE RELATED

Website: https://doggettsrace.com www.pla.co.uk/Events/Doggett-s-Coat-and-Badge-Race www.fishhall.co.uk

Horseferry Ferry

The horseferry linked Westminster on the northern (western) bank of the Thames to Lambeth on the southern (eastern) shore. It was owned by the Archbishops of Canterbury, whose London residence was Lambeth Palace, which was on the latter side. The ferry became redundant with the opening Westminster Bridge (1750). Both the Archbishop and the watermen were paid compensation for their resulting loss of income.

Location: Horseferry Road, SW1P 3HX (blue, purple)

See Also: TOWNHOUSES Lambeth Palace

Lightermen

Lightermen transported items such as rubbish and buildings materials. Their boars were adapted from barges.

The Thames Wherry Trust

Wherries were water taxis that were used on the tidal Thames.

In 1990, at an informal meeting that was held at the National Maritime Museum, John Cox (1933-2015) proposed that a wherry should be built. None had been constructed for 150 years. The Rose In June was built. Her lines were derived from an apprentice s model that had been made in 1781. This was found in the Science Museum's collection.

See Also: THE THAMES Boats, The Thames Traditional Boat Society

David Backhouse 2024