The Lord Mayor of London leaves Rotherhithe, Church Stairs towards Wapping
The two Paddle Boats were called the Jessy May the Pearl which was launched on the 2-10-1876.
Edward and Symes, the Cubbit Town ship builders, built these iron vessels. The boats were 82ft long, and had 42ft wide decks with an 8ft 9ins depth, nearly a rectangle in shape. The boats were steered by a rudder at both ends.
They had two sets of steering gear, worked from the top of each paddle box. This was in order to keep the decks clear. The funnels were placed on the sponson near the paddle boxes.
On the deck were 3 rows for wagons and carts and two for passengers. It could hold twelve two horse carts, maximum 50 tones.
The engine room skylights were placed between each cart track. Each end had a hinged platforms that could be raised and lowered by chains and winches. These platforms formed the end bulwarks and were the landing stage ramps.
The engines were 30hp, driving a pair of paddle wheels, via disconnecting apparatus, meaning one paddle wheel could be disconnected while the other wheel was still in motion. This gave manoeuvrability. The engines were made by Maudslay and Field.
The boat had a draught of 2’6” but were restricted to within Wapping Wharf in “low water spring”.
The problems planning a landing stage
An intervening bridge or prow was necessary but the “Conservancy” would not allow any that had a height above 8 feet above Trinity high Water. The rise and fall of the spring tide at this point is 20ft. The passengers and vehicles needed, at low tide, to be raised 20ft from the boat’s deck to the shore. This was the problem that led to differing schemes being put forward for the landing system.
One solution considered was for a hydraulic lift for one or two vehicles, but 6 or 8 of these would be needed for a 15 min service, plus there would have to be a large landing stage.
Second solution would be to bring the boats between two hydraulic rams, similar to a Victorian Ship lift. The problem with this was the piers would need to go out 50ft into the Thames to cater for low tide. This would interfere with shipping.
The third, and eventual adopted solution, was the system of having a large lifting platform (landing stage) and winding drum connected with 8 to 10 heavy chains and worked by a 120hp steam engine. Duckham of Millwall Docks proposed this system and Duckham consequentially became the project engineer.
Edward and Symes, the Cubbit Town ship builders, built these iron vessels. The boats were 82ft long, and had 42ft wide decks with an 8ft 9ins depth, nearly a rectangle in shape. The boats were steered by a rudder at both ends.
They had two sets of steering gear, worked from the top of each paddle box. This was in order to keep the decks clear. The funnels were placed on the sponson near the paddle boxes.
On the deck were 3 rows for wagons and carts and two for passengers. It could hold twelve two horse carts, maximum 50 tones.
The engine room skylights were placed between each cart track. Each end had a hinged platforms that could be raised and lowered by chains and winches. These platforms formed the end bulwarks and were the landing stage ramps.
The engines were 30hp, driving a pair of paddle wheels, via disconnecting apparatus, meaning one paddle wheel could be disconnected while the other wheel was still in motion. This gave manoeuvrability. The engines were made by Maudslay and Field.
The boat had a draught of 2’6” but were restricted to within Wapping Wharf in “low water spring”.
The problems planning a landing stage
An intervening bridge or prow was necessary but the “Conservancy” would not allow any that had a height above 8 feet above Trinity high Water. The rise and fall of the spring tide at this point is 20ft. The passengers and vehicles needed, at low tide, to be raised 20ft from the boat’s deck to the shore. This was the problem that led to differing schemes being put forward for the landing system.
One solution considered was for a hydraulic lift for one or two vehicles, but 6 or 8 of these would be needed for a 15 min service, plus there would have to be a large landing stage.
Second solution would be to bring the boats between two hydraulic rams, similar to a Victorian Ship lift. The problem with this was the piers would need to go out 50ft into the Thames to cater for low tide. This would interfere with shipping.
The third, and eventual adopted solution, was the system of having a large lifting platform (landing stage) and winding drum connected with 8 to 10 heavy chains and worked by a 120hp steam engine. Duckham of Millwall Docks proposed this system and Duckham consequentially became the project engineer.
The dignitaries arrive at Wapping
and a prayer is offered up
and a prayer is offered up
The Thames Steam Ferry
Wapping to Rotherhithe
A brief history
Wapping to Rotherhithe
A brief history
The ferry ran from the wharf next to the Wapping dock stairs called Tunnel Wharf, previously Middleton Wharf, to Rotherhithe Church Stairs (St Mary's) being sited almost directly over the Thames tunnel. Work commenced in earnest in October 1875, the first stone being laid by the Lord Mayor of London, Alderman Stone on 11 May 1875. He traveled from All Hallows Peir to Wapping on a decorated "Princess Alice". The ferry was later to be involved with the accident in fog at Woolwich when watermen and passengers lost their lives, and later in 1878 its sinking after a collision with the collier Bywell Castel at Galleons Reach with an enormous loss of life.
The opening, with the Mayor and Carriage was at 1pm on 31st October 1876 (unconfirmed, definitely a Wednesday in October) from the Rotherhithe side, taking 6 minutes to cross to Wapping on the ferry Pearl. He declared the ferry open. Food was then taken in a marquee. At the opening ceremony the Rev Cannon McCaul, the Lord Mayor’s chaplain, offered up a prayer.
It was commented on how narrow the street approaches were at Wapping and that pressure should be put top remedy this.
The opening, with the Mayor and Carriage was at 1pm on 31st October 1876 (unconfirmed, definitely a Wednesday in October) from the Rotherhithe side, taking 6 minutes to cross to Wapping on the ferry Pearl. He declared the ferry open. Food was then taken in a marquee. At the opening ceremony the Rev Cannon McCaul, the Lord Mayor’s chaplain, offered up a prayer.
It was commented on how narrow the street approaches were at Wapping and that pressure should be put top remedy this.
