| The Thames was once a tributary of the River Rhine | | | | lightermen with one oar he used as a rudder to |
| becoming a river in it's own right as the surface of | | | | skilfully postion the barge in specific tidal sets to |
| the earth changed over many thousands of years. | | | | harness the flow of the water to travel up or down |
| The Thames is one of the UK's longest river's and by | | | | the river. Evidence of the trade is still clear today |
| far the most important! The river's importance | | | | with many of the old working wharves redeveloped |
| developed with the growth of the City of London. | | | | into luxury residential apartments, but retaining their |
| Providing a means of trade and transport the river | | | | working names; Tea Trade Wharf, Spice Wharf, Gun |
| Thames linked the villages and towns inland with the | | | | Wharf, to mention but a few! |
| trading capital of London and the sea for international | | | | Taxi style boats were used for crossing the river due |
| trade. Today, the Thame is a growing area for boat | | | | to the lack of bridge crossing points. The small taxi |
| hire and chartered boats for hosting events and | | | | boats were piloted by Watermen licensed to take |
| private engagements | | | | passengers over the river. The queen even had her |
| The river in Central London thrived on trade, in fact | | | | own Watermen to pilot her royal waterborne |
| London thrived on the Thames! At times the Thames | | | | transport! |
| was so full of barges you could walk across it simply | | | | One of the most important ships in British heritage |
| by hopping from one barge to another! Huge dock | | | | now rests in a dry dock at Greenwich in the heart of |
| networks and canals were constructed to try and | | | | Naval London on the banks of the Thames. The |
| keep the river free for boats to travel. These include | | | | Cutty Sark was the fastest Tea Cutter in the World |
| the West India Docks where you now find Canary | | | | holding the record for a staggering 10 years. She was |
| Wharf, the Rotherhithe Dock network which is now | | | | even known to overhaul more modern steam |
| largely filled in, the Royal Docks which now hosts | | | | powered ships! |
| London's City Airport and the Grand Union Canal and | | | | Being a tidal river, fed by a network of tributaries the |
| Regents Canals. | | | | Thames often flooded causing disease and misery as |
| The ships brought goods and trade to London. When | | | | well as fertilising the flood planes. In the winter it was |
| they arrived they were often unloaded by barges | | | | known to freeze and London's residents would ice |
| known as lighters. These Thames Lighters were | | | | skate. |
| driven by the tide being skillfully navigated by a single | | | | |