Sis
Rootles out resources!
Google (maps) it Wendy, they are very close together. (Sorry 'bout the off piste mods)
Hi from London
- Thread starter LeslieS
- Start date
LeslieS
Well-Known Member
Just being a boy 
St. Mary's is in Rotherhithe village, along the southern bank of the Thames. It was the first church to be built here, originally is 13 century, I think, then rebuilt in c1735 as the population and area increased.
St. Mary Magdalen is actually about a mile and a half away, and is in Bermondsey. It was/is the primary church of Bermondsey, the church where notable local people of the day were buried and where military colours were deposited, etc. It's just off Tower Bridge Road.
Both areas were and are completely different (I'm sure you know this). Bermondsey noted for it's past leather/tanning connection, and smell that goes with all the associated trades. Rotherhithe for it's seafaring history and all the various trades to do with shipbuilding and breaking. Also for it's now filled in docks. The area used to be 70% water, and is still virtually a peninsula with drawbridges either end that used to rise to allow shipping into the docks. I have been here 40 years and seen much change. Population has quadrupled in last 20 years, docks filled in to provide more housing, etc. I'm going on a bit here.......
St. Mary's is in Rotherhithe village, along the southern bank of the Thames. It was the first church to be built here, originally is 13 century, I think, then rebuilt in c1735 as the population and area increased.
St. Mary Magdalen is actually about a mile and a half away, and is in Bermondsey. It was/is the primary church of Bermondsey, the church where notable local people of the day were buried and where military colours were deposited, etc. It's just off Tower Bridge Road.
Both areas were and are completely different (I'm sure you know this). Bermondsey noted for it's past leather/tanning connection, and smell that goes with all the associated trades. Rotherhithe for it's seafaring history and all the various trades to do with shipbuilding and breaking. Also for it's now filled in docks. The area used to be 70% water, and is still virtually a peninsula with drawbridges either end that used to rise to allow shipping into the docks. I have been here 40 years and seen much change. Population has quadrupled in last 20 years, docks filled in to provide more housing, etc. I'm going on a bit here.......
Hugh Mccoy
Active Member
Welcome Leslie.
Steve Bumstead
Well-Known Member
Hi Leslie and welcome
Ma-dotcom
A Bonza Little Digger!
Just being a boy
I have been here 40 years and seen much change. Population has quadrupled in last 20 years, docks filled in to provide more housing, etc. I'm going on a bit here.......
Lovely stuff Leslie thank you..could almost do with a separate thread for posts like this to satisfy the curiosity of those of us who have never seen these places.
History & geography so important in Genealogy 
Peregrine
Well-Known Member
Oh so true Ma-Dotcom. I am forever Google mapping and searching for images of places. And because, like Londoner, I am descended from Thames watermen for Christmas I received a lovely book called "Panorama of the Thames A Riverside View of Georgian London". In1829 a gentleman named Samuel Leigh published a book containing just two pages, but one was 60 feet long and the other a mere 6 feet long. It was called "Panorama of the Thames from London to Richmond". Unfortunately it does not show Rotherhithe LeslieS, but it does show me Pimlico, Lambeth and other places where my ancestors lived and plied their trade on the Thames.Lovely stuff Leslie thank you..could almost do with a separate thread for posts like this to satisfy the curiosity of those of us who have never seen these places.
Findem
The Fearless One. Rest in Peace.
Btw Wendy, Londoner and Peregrine, are you aware that quite a number of Thames Watermen, no doubt "Reservists" were called up in 1956 for the "Suez War", when Britain and France set out to regain their control of the Suez Canal? The Suez Canal had been nationalised by Egypt. The story that did the rounds while I was stationed in Gibraltar (1955-57) was that the Watermen were to man Landing craft.
I recall it vividly because we were very very ashamed of the British Government for backing down to threats by USA and the USSR. We felt that having accomplished most of it's objectives already the British and French should have told Dwight Eisenhower and his equivalent in the USSR to get stuffed, then finish off the job, then negotiate.
After all, building the canal was I believe a joint British/French venture.
I recall it vividly because we were very very ashamed of the British Government for backing down to threats by USA and the USSR. We felt that having accomplished most of it's objectives already the British and French should have told Dwight Eisenhower and his equivalent in the USSR to get stuffed, then finish off the job, then negotiate.
After all, building the canal was I believe a joint British/French venture.
Last edited:
Ma-dotcom
A Bonza Little Digger!
No, Derek, not heard that before I think. My watermen were known to me only in the late 1800s early 1900s. So probably none current in later 1900s.
Wow! shall google to see if it's available to view.
Wow! shall google to see if it's available to view.
LeslieS
Well-Known Member
The Thames Watermen used to have an annual boat race up the Thames. I think it was called 'The Doggets Coat and Badge Race' or someting similar. They are remembered today by a pub of that name by Waterloo or Blackfriars Bridge. Also by an annual barge race manned by around 12 men and/or women who stand up to row the heavy barges up river for a few miles. Some years there are over a hundred companies taking part whose employees man the barges. The barges are docorated and brightly coloured and the race is keenly fought. Good to see old traditions alive and well. Not sure where they start, probably Greenwich, going past my window in Rotherhithe. I think finish is at Tower Bridge?
Ma-dotcom
A Bonza Little Digger!
A very impressive book Peregrine & nicely presented on this site.:-
http://www. panoramaofthethames.com/1829.html
space inserted after www.
LeslieS
Well-Known Member
What a wonderful book! There is a book showing continuous photos of the Thame waterfront along north and south banks in about 1929 and comparing them with todays views. Published a few years ago, I'll try to recall the title. It included Rotherhithe and Wapping opposite. It went for a few miles along the river I remember.
Findem
The Fearless One. Rest in Peace.
Forgot to mention that some of the Suez bound fleet stopped in at Gibraltar which of course started a lot of rumours, one of which was that some of us REME lads were going to Suez. Fortunately it turned out to be untrue but did cause some consternation, I for one wasn't too keen on going to war for the miserly sum of 3 pounds 12 shillings (less 4 shillings for the National Health Scheme) per week, not when in Civvy Street I had been earning 10 pounds per week and without getting shot at.
LeslieS
Well-Known Member
Peregrine
Well-Known Member
The web site is very useful too. What an amazing project!
gillyflower
Always caring about others
Hello and welcome 
