The Ferry. Engraved by W. J. Palmer from drawings on wood by H. R. Robertson. From Life on the Upper Thames (1875). Such rope ferries powered by human arms and hands provided a means of crossing the Thames and other rivers when fords were too dangerous — say, in spring — and neither a weir nor bridge had been constructed. G.H. Birch's London on Thames in Bygone Days points out that before Victorian days many bridges, which were funded by private investors, charged tolls, and the poor could not always afford to cross.
Text and formatting by George P. Landow. [You may use this image without prior permission for any scholarly or educational purpose as long as you (1) credit Harvard University and the Internet Archive and (2) link your document to this URL in a web document or cite it in a print one.]
Related Material
- Weirs and Locks on the River Thames
- Barge-Horses Towing
- Weir, with movable bridge
- Weir, with fixed bridge
- The Ford
- Canals in the UK
- A steam-powered Thames barge
Bibliography
Robertson, H. R. Life on the Upper Thames. London: Virtue, Spalding, and Co., 1875. Internet Archive version of a copy in the Harvard College Library. Web. 29 April 2012.
Last modified 30 April 2012