Hammerton's Ferry

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Hammerton's Ferry
BSicon FERRY.svg
Hammerton's Ferry midriver.jpg
Locale London, England, UK
Waterway River Thames
Transit type Passenger ferry
OwnerFrancis Spencer
OperatorAndrew Spencer
Began operation1909
System length0.12 km (0.075 mi)
No. of lines1
No. of vessels1
No. of terminals2
Website http://www.hammertonsferry.com

Hammerton's Ferry is a pedestrian and cycle ferry service across the River Thames in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, London, England. The ferry links the river's northern bank near Marble Hill House in Twickenham with its southern bank near Ham House in Ham. It is one of only four remaining ferry routes in London not to be replaced by a bridge or tunnel.

Contents

Historical background

Although ferries (and later bridges) had crossed the river to the east at Richmond since 1459 [1] and to the west at Eel Pie Island since at least 1652, the lands to the south of the river at this point had historically been privately held by the Tollemache family (owners of Ham House) and were off limits to the public. Consequently, despite the distance from the nearest crossings there was little demand for cross-river services at this location. Additionally, the Tollemache family had licensing rights for the Twickenham Ferry at Eel Pie Island (sometimes known as Dysart's ferry after the family), and consequently had little interest in promoting a competing service. [2] The Twickenham Ferry is a setting for some action in Little Dorrit by Charles Dickens.

Walter Hammerton

In 1901 Marble Hill House on the north bank of the Thames and the surrounding park were purchased for public use [3] and in 1902 the footpath on the southern bank near Ham House became a public right of way by Act of Parliament, [4] resulting in increased passenger traffic in the area. In 1908 local resident Walter Hammerton began hiring out boats to leisure users from a boathouse opposite Marble Hill House, and in 1909 began to operate a regular ferry service across the river at this point using a 12-passenger clinker-built skiff, [5] charging 1d per journey. [6]

In 1913, William Champion and Lord Dysart, operators of the nearby Twickenham Ferry, took legal action against Hammerton to remove his right to operate the ferry. [7] Although Hammerton won the initial case, the judgement was reversed on appeal. Following considerable public interest in the case, a public subscription raised the funds for Hammerton to take the case to the House of Lords, who ruled in his favour on 23 July 1915. [6]

The legal case resulted in considerable publicity for Hammerton, culminating in the release of the song "The Ferry to Fairyland" celebrating the case. ("Fairyland", in this case, referring to Marble Hill House, recently purchased by the London County Council for public enjoyment.) [6]

In 1947 Hammerton retired after 38 years of operating the ferry, leaving the ferry and boathouse to Sandy Scott. [6] The business had been given a royal warrant in the early 20th century, which Hammerton kept in the family even after the ferry and boathouse were under new management. The drummer Phil Collins is the grandson of the original proprietor, Walter Hammerton, and is said to be in possession of the original warrant. [8]

Passengers boarding from the north bank Hammerton's Ferry pedestrians boarding.jpg
Passengers boarding from the north bank
The jetty on the south bank Hammerton's Ferry south pier across river.jpg
The jetty on the south bank

Current operation

The ferry is currently owned by Francis Spencer [9] and operated by Stan Rust. [10] The current ferry, Peace of Mind, was designed and built by Thanetcraft Limited in South Wales in 1997. [11] Hammerton's original wooden skiff is now on display at the Museum of London Docklands. [5]

The ferry currently operates between a floating boathouse on the north bank of the Thames and on the south bank, a rudimentary jetty used at high tide and a set of stairs in the embankment used at low tide. The boathouse is also in use as a private mooring for leisure craft. [12] Weather permitting, the ferry operates on weekends year-round, and weekdays between February and October. [13] As well as the ferry service, rowboats, canoes and motorboats can also be hired from the boathouse. [14]

In July 2007 the ferry briefly made headlines when owner Francis Spencer saved from drowning a woman found floating in the Thames. [9] [15] After the rescue, the woman left the scene and was never identified. [9]

The ferry is just downstream of the finish line of the Great River Race and is on the course of the Twickenham Regatta. As the ferry has right of way over rowed craft, the races have to be carefully timed to ensure that the ferry does not interfere with their running. [16]

Further reading

See also

Related Research Articles

Petersham, London Human settlement in England

Petersham is a village in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames on the east of the bend in the River Thames south of Richmond, which it shares with neighbouring Ham. It provides the foreground of the scenic view from Richmond Hill across Petersham Meadows, with Ham House further along the river. Other nearby places include Twickenham, Isleworth, Teddington, Mortlake and Roehampton.

Twickenham Town in Greater London, England

Twickenham, in southwest London, England, is on the River Thames 9.9 miles (15.9 km) southwest of Charing Cross, 2 miles (3.2 km) southeast of Hounslow, and 2.6 miles (4.2 km) northwest of Kingston upon Thames.

London Borough of Richmond upon Thames Borough in United Kingdom

The London Borough of Richmond upon Thames in southwest London forms part of Outer London and is the only London borough on both sides of the River Thames. It was created in 1965 when three smaller council areas amalgamated under the London Government Act 1963. It is governed by Richmond upon Thames London Borough Council and is divided into nineteen wards. The population is 198,019 and the major settlements are Barnes, East Sheen, Mortlake, Richmond, Twickenham, Teddington and Hampton.

Richmond is a town in south-west London, 8.2 miles (13.2 km) west-southwest of Charing Cross. It is on a meander of the River Thames, with many parks and open spaces, including Richmond Park, and many protected conservation areas, which include much of Richmond Hill. A specific Act of Parliament protects the scenic view of the River Thames from Richmond.

Eel Pie Island Human settlement in England

Eel Pie Island is an 8.935-acre (3.6 ha) island in the River Thames at Twickenham in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. It is on the maintained minimum head of water above the only lock on the Tideway and is accessible by boat or from the left bank by footbridge. The island had a club that was a major venue for jazz and blues in the 1960s.

Pie and mash

Pie and mash is a traditional working-class food, originating in the Docks of London. It typically consists of a minced beef pie, mashed potato and a parsley sauce known as liquor. Pie, mash and eel shops have been in London since the 19th century, and are still common in East and South London, and in many parts of Kent and Essex. The shops may also serve stewed or jellied eels.

St Margarets, London Human settlement in England

St Margarets is a suburb in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, about 9 miles (14 km) west-southwest of central London. It is bounded by the Thames Tideway to the north-east, and the River Crane to the north-west and north where the land tapers between these rivers. The place does not extend any further south than Richmond Road, Twickenham. Land and buildings closer to Richmond Bridge than the eponymous railway station are, traditionally distinctly, known as East Twickenham. Both places go by their post town and traditional parish, Twickenham quite often; in the 19th century the south of St Margarets was marked on maps as Twickenham Park.

Ham House 98th-century house in London, England

Ham House is a 17th-century house set in formal gardens on the bank of the River Thames in Ham, south of Richmond in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. The original house was completed in 1610 by Thomas Vavasour, an Elizabethan courtier and Knight Marshal to James I. It was then leased, and later bought, by William Murray, a close friend and supporter of Charles I. The English Civil War saw the house and much of the estate sequestrated but Murray's wife Katherine regained them on payment of a fine. During the Protectorate, his daughter Elizabeth, Countess of Dysart on her father’s death in 1655, successfully navigated the prevailing anti-royalist sentiment and retained control of the estate.

Twickenham Rowing Club

Twickenham Rowing Club was founded on 26 July 1860 so is jointly with Thames Rowing Club the third oldest rowing club on the Thames. The club is on Eel Pie Island in Twickenham, south-west London. Its boat code is TWK.

Eel Pie Studios

Eel Pie Recording Studios, formerly Oceanic, was a recording studio located in The Boathouse, Twickenham on the banks of the River Thames in Ranelagh Drive, by Twickenham Bridge, West London, and also simultaneously at No. 45 Broadwick Street, Soho, London. The name for the studios came from the nearby Eel Pie Island, which was known as a major jazz and blues venue in the 1960s.

Ham, London Human settlement in England

Ham is a suburban district in Richmond, south-west London. It has meadows adjoining the River Thames where the Thames Path National Trail also runs. Most of Ham is in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and, chiefly, within the ward of Ham, Petersham and Richmond Riverside; the rest is in the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames. The district has modest convenience shops and amenities, including a petrol station and several pubs, but its commerce is subsidiary to the nearby regional-level economic centre of Kingston upon Thames.

Richmond Bridge is an 18th-century stone arch bridge that crosses the River Thames at Richmond, connecting the two halves of the present-day London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. It was designed by James Paine and Kenton Couse.

Tideway The part of the River Thames subject to tides

The Tideway is a part of the River Thames in England which is subject to tides. This stretch of water is downstream from Teddington Lock. The Tideway comprises the upper Thames Estuary including the Pool of London.

William Tollemache, 9th Earl of Dysart

William John Manners Tollemache, 9th Earl of Dysart DL in the Peerage of Scotland, was also a Baronet (cr.1793) in the Baronetage of Great Britain, Lord Lieutenant of Rutland (1881–1906), and Justice of the Peace for Leicestershire and Lincolnshire.

Twickenham Ferry

The Twickenham Ferry, sometimes known as Dysart's Ferry, was a historic ferry crossing of the River Thames in what is now the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, England. The ferry connected a location just downstream to Eel Pie Island in the town of Twickenham on the northern bank of the river with Ham House on the southern bank. It should not be confused with today's Hammerton's Ferry, which crosses the river some distance downstream of the route of the Twickenham Ferry.

The Boathouse, Twickenham

The Boathouse is a commercial property located at Ranelagh Drive, Twickenham in England, which housed music and film studios.

Canbury Human settlement in England

Canbury is a district of the northern part of Kingston upon Thames that takes its name from the historic manor that covered the area. Modern Canbury comprises two electoral wards in the constituency of Richmond Park; Canbury Ward to the south and Tudor Ward to the north.

Ham Common, London

Ham Common is an area of common land in Ham, London. It is a conservation area in, and managed by, the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. It comprises 48.69 hectares, the second largest area of common land in the borough, 2 acres (0.81 ha) smaller than Barnes Common. It is divided into two distinct habitats, grassland and woodland, separated by the A307, Upper Ham Road. It is an area of ecological, historical and recreational interest, designated a Local Nature Reserve.

Latchmere Recreation Ground, Kingston upon Thames

Latchmere Recreation Ground is a public open space with playing fields and a children's playground in the north of the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames.

References

  1. ↑ Reynolds, Susan (1962). "Twickenham: Introduction". A History of the County of Middlesex. 3: 139–147. Retrieved 30 December 2007.
  2. ↑ "Twickenham Ferry". The Twickenham Museum. Retrieved 30 December 2007.
  3. ↑ Tolhurst, Marilyn (1998). "Marble Hill House: Information for Teachers" (PDF). English Heritage . Retrieved 30 December 2007.
  4. ↑ Slater, G (1907). The English Peasantry and the Enclosure of Common Fields. London: Constable & Co. pp.  337. ISBN   1-4212-1082-7.
  5. 1 2 "Museum in Docklands: Vessels". Museum of London. Archived from the original on 13 December 2007. Retrieved 30 December 2007.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "Walter Hammerton's Ferry". Twickenham Museum . Retrieved 30 December 2007.
  7. ↑ "Hammerton's Ferry, Ham". Old Father Thames. Archived from the original on 23 July 2008. Retrieved 30 December 2007.
  8. ↑ "Ever Been On This West London Ferry?". Londonist . 20 October 2017. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  9. 1 2 3 Blades, Hollye (18 July 2007). "Hero of Thames Rescue". Richmond and Twickenham Times .
  10. ↑ Mayes, Robert (7 February 2003). "River Recluse's Home is an Eyesore Say Neighbours". Richmond and Twickenham Times .
  11. ↑ Hatts, Leigh (2005). The Thames Path:From the Sea to the Source. Milnthorpe: Cicerone Press Ltd. ISBN   1-85284-436-1.
  12. ↑ "Marinas, Moorings, Boatyards, Consultants, Equipment Suppliers & Services". The Yacht Harbour Association Ltd. Archived from the original on 24 January 2005. Retrieved 30 December 2007.
  13. ↑ Hoggart, Simon (18 January 2001). "Suburban Hymn". The Guardian . Retrieved 25 July 2019.
  14. ↑ "Interim Report of the Centre Working Party". Appendix 7: River-related Users of the Eel Pie Centre. Twickenham Riverside Redevelopment. 13 April 2000. Retrieved 30 December 2007.
  15. ↑ Newstead, Sarah (4 July 2007). "Drowning Lady Pulled from River". Richmond and Twickenham Times . Retrieved 25 July 2019.
  16. ↑ "Twickenham Regatta Safety Instructions". Twickenham Rowing Club. 26 May 2007. Archived from the original on 28 July 2011. Retrieved 30 December 2007.


Coordinates: 51°26′48″N0°18′50″W / 51.446652°N 0.314012°W / 51.446652; -0.314012

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