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Find out more about how Woolwich got it's own ferry service to cross the Thames. Watch the TV report on the peopleΜύ who keep the service going, click on the link in the top right of this page.

Early Days

Back in the 1300s, when Woolwich was a fishing village, permission was given to run a ferry between the north shore of the Thames and Warren Lane on the southern bank.

In paperwork dating back to 1308 there's evidence of the ferry service, when one William de Wicton sold the business and his house to one William atte Halle for the princely sum of Β£10.

But like most things the value of the business rose, and the ferry was sold once more in 1320 - this time for 100 silver marks.

Industrialisation

With the growth of the city and the increasing importance of the London dockyards the position of the ferry service became problematic. In 1810 the army set up its own service running between Woolwich Arsenal to Duvals Wharf in the north.

One year later and a second ferry was allowed to run from Sand Wharf, the company operating this service called itself the Woolwich Ferry Company. This service was generally referred to as the western ferry - it operated from 1811 until 1844.

A community response

A public meeting was called in 1880 to assess whether businesses and residents in Woolwich could set up its own steam ferry service.

However it wasn't until 1884 that the Metropolitan Board of Works, a forerunner to the Greater London Assembly, agreed to help pay for the boats and landing piers.

A free ferry service was finally unveiled for public use on the 23rd March 1889.

Woolwich Foot Tunnel - under the Thames

Modern usage

Times have changed and so has the Woolwich ferry service - these days three diesel powered ships operate - each carrying 500 passengers and up to 200 tons of motor vehicles.

Built in 1963, the double ended vessels are 185.6 feet long, and 61 feet wide. They weight 738.5 tons.Μύ

They're propelled by two pressure charged 500 horse powered diesel engines that drive two propellers, one fitted at each end of the boat.

Each of the three vessels are named after men who'd help represent Woolwich in local or national Government. The names are James Newman, John Burns and Ernest Bevin.