4. On the Waterfront
The lightermen

Before the docks were built lightermen ferried goods from ships in midstream to the river quays. They did this in flat-bottomed barges called lighters.

When the enclosed docks were proposed, they protested that their livelihood was in danger and as compensation won a 'free-water clause' (see 'On the Waterfront') in the dock acts.

During the nineteenth century the ability to move in and out of the docks without paying charges gave them an important role in the port, they did not only carry goods from docks to river wharves but also from dock to dock and from wharf to wharf.

They also delivered and collected goods up and down the river serving factories and other riverside industries.

Their job was a skilled one requiring a long apprenticeship. Knowledge of the river, its currents and tides was essential in manoeuvring the bulky lighters.

Their only source of power was their own muscle and the long 'sweeps' (oars) by which they moved and steered the barges.

Other jobs

The Thames watermen rivalled the lightermen in their knowledge of the river. They ferried passengers across and along the Thames, which was a busy highway for people as well as goods.

In the nineteenth century steam vessels made their appearance and regular passenger services ran up and down the river from London Bridge to Gravesend.

On the wharves dockers carried on the same sort of loading and unloading work as that in the docks, although some types of jobs were more commonly found on the river.

One of these was that of the 'coalie' who handled the increasing quantities of coal which came to London for factories, steam ships and for use in people's homes.

D: Thames lightermen Henry Mayhew London Labour and London's Poor vol,111 1861

F: Unloading coal into a lighter, Henry Mayhew, London Labour and London's Poor vol.111 1861