My family had a lighterage firm on the Thames, my Grandfather set up W E White & Sons (Towage) Ltd in the 40's after he moved on from sailing barges to steam tugs and latterly diesel tugs. They operated about 30 tugs and 300 - 400 barges until everything fell apart, as shown in this brilliant film, in the 70's. Knocker White, a large lighterage tug, built in 1925 is still afloat and currently moored at Trinity Buoy Wharf, awaiting restoration. Unfortunately I never got to work on the river myself as at the time I left school in 1971 it was too late. I did spend many days and weeks aboard various of our tugs during school holidays from the age of 7 and absolutely loved it. Thanks very much to everyone involved in this superb film, and more helping to relive so many memories.

Fabulous and great to watch! My grandfather Thomas Puplett was a Lighterman and Waterman, the last of over 400 years of his family working on the Thames.

My dad is featured in the first minute of this film. So many stories and anecdotes that resonate with our family history. Bloody good film for anyone looking to understand what lightermen did.

I come from a long line of Waterman and Lighterman, so interesting, thank you

What an excellent film...I’m family tree is full of lightermen and watermen ... an end of an era... this is an amazing living history record.

What a lovely informative documentary. Fascinating history of men who actually worked in the docks prior to regeneration. I thoroughly enjoyed watching this.

Thank you so much for this and I'm so impressed with the school teaching their pupils such an important history! I went to Chissenhale school Off Roman Road Market less than 10 minutes away from the FREE Victoria and Albert Children's Museum and we were never even taken there ! We were in the heart of history which people came from all over the world to see a we didn't have a clue. Here I am as an adult teaching myself. I was shocked to find out about the Bryant & may matchstick girls. I've recently traced my entire family tree that all come from Bethnal Green / Stepney area for over 200 years and all that history lost. Bravo to persons involved with this project. Hope your all safe and well especially during these tricky times!

This film is gold dust! Thank you for your vision in keeping alive this record of the Thames, that was once a working river. It reminds us as well of times now gone when a person's work gave them an identity that they valued. Does that apply at all today? I remember another film on the Thames that I saw on the "Making of Modern London" series in which it said of the deal porters who handled the soft woods and timbers in the Surrey Docks, that you could always recognize a deal porter "by his calling", meaning that his physical appearance showed the effect his job had on him. No doubt containerisation and "roll on, roll off" methods of handling cargoes were an inevitable result of progress, but the cost was great and was to measured in human terms. This wonderful film demonstrates that so well.

I never worked on the river, but was lucky to be born near it and lived in Hammersmith for many years. Through that, I met many of these Watermen who became great friends of mine. They were great company, very funny and hard drinkers, plus there was always a 'fiddle' to be had. As a kid, I spent loads of time messing about on the foreshore, getting filthy dirty and sometimes picking up old clips of .303 ammo from underneath Hammersmith bridge. Then, after starting work in 1976 and having a couple of bob, I bought my first boat from the owner of the local boatyard (my first intro into the world of the Watermen) and finally sold my last one back in 2005. I no longer care for London very much, but I still love the river, and now, nearing retirement, I still love to be near it and find myself harking back to the great times we had, with my old mate Al (Alan) getting me very pissed - again, and talking me into buying yet another boat off him. God bless you all lads!!

I'm sure it was hard. But I envy their closeness to nature and the community.

The Thames was part of my life growing up in Woolwich , a dirty old river but it has a special place for all Londoners.

There is footage of my grandad Ernest benge on here steering the boat he passed away about 25 years ago

I loved every minute of this. I lived on the Thames at Galleons Lock and Woolwich for 7 years and loved watching the activity on the river and remnants of the old world every where you looked. It was easy to imagine the busy goings-on of yesteryear so it's great to have an account like this to fill in some of the blanks. Amazing. ❤

Absolutely fantastic documentary. What a wonderful profession and what a wonderful set of characters, brilliant stuff.

Fantastic London history thanks for uploading

What a beautiful film. I've always lived by the Thames and now at 50 years old, have only just been staring to learn about the history of this amazing river. Thank you.

Terry was so proud of his job, It was privilege to hear the insight into being a lighter man

I too am related to a Waterman, John Baker b1777, then his son Emanuel and grandson Robert, my great grandfather, all from Bermondsey. Although the family moved away from the Thames at the end of the 19th century, my dad still worked in London after and before his war service. The draw of London and the water is still in my blood every time I visit.

Great film, My father was a lightermen all his life also his grandad and great grandad before him. Shame its a dying trade now.

Thanks to the 'Company of Waterman & Lightermen', I found ancestors back to Anthony. apprenticed on 04/081693 to Samuel Wigden. Couldn't get an apprenticeship my grandfather died in an accident at 'The British & Foreign Wharf'. My Dad was a driver on the LMS, so I started work on BR. My uncle Bob, was a skipper on Sun Tugs, he apprenticed my cousin Derek, RIP.

A great band of brothers

My grandfather and my father were lightermen their cousin's as well. Both quit in 1950, my grandad went to work for the gas board at battersea power station until he retired.

So interesting. You've really opened my eyes and educated me. Thank you so much. Best wishes G

Fantastic stories. My family all worked on the Thames 👍👍

Thank you so much, wonderful documentary. I am trying to trace my family the Hoskins and Corsans. my Nan and her family were such lovely people.found out they date back to 1648 both families Waterman and lighterman and very close to each other. ❤️ Community at its best ❤️

My great grandad used to be a ferryman, and would come from Queensborough, isle of sheppey and would sail up the Thames daily. I wish I’d met him.

Great video of days long gone....... Full of the rich history of the River Thames and the men who worked there.

My Granddad skippered a sailing barge out of Greenhithe. Miss the Thames; I knew it when the water was as thick as pea soup and twice as smelly.

How often do we judge people by their accent and vocabulary? Sorry. I'm so impressed by these men; it shows how important it is today to develop the potential of everyone. Thank you again.

brilliant film. interesting . top men.

Fantastic, very interesting, thank you

This is brilliant thank you so much for the uploads 😁

The history of the docklands is the history of London. As a centre of trading, the docks were responsible for making Britain what it was many years ago, a rich trading nation. Things have moved on, probably after the advent of the shipping container.

Fabulous documentary...great job

Im amarican but love the britis tv it helps we all speak english british are so smart makes sense usa chose and ended up speaking english up to date canada speeks french but Europe was varry big and light years ahead with industrial age invented almost all we use to day and over last 100 year it was profectd

I remember going on our annual Beano to Margate. Never remembered coming back.

33:11 - 'When my boat comes in' My parents would say that on occasion & I never understand what they meant, but now I do👏

Thank-you!

Great video ,The good old days.

I have been along the Thames on some of the tourist vessels from HMS Belfast to Greenwich, and to the Houses of Parliament etc. I'd have loved to have seen how busy it was back in the 1940's to the 1960's etc.

Great History.

I came from Bermondsey near butlers wharf hays wharf all around that manner, as a little girl I remember all around the wharf s smelling of spice like bread pudding where it used to be used from ships bringing over the goods tea sugar banana s bring it all back PLEASE.

How many of us can say this about our jobs?

My father Victor Walsh passed his apprenticeship just before the war ? bound year 1937 master was Howe

My grandfather was a skipper before the war on the Tug the Gnat on the Thames been trying to find out more his name was Morris Charles Brown.

Even though my ancestors were lightermen and watermen fom the 1850s to 1900 I would think the stories of my g.g gandfather and g. grandfather and their brothers up until the 1930s. maybe later, would have similar tales to tell. I've often wondered if anyone knew of the Embletons that worked the river. Great video.

My great grandfather was a water man in the 1800s

veery good

Plenty of lighter men on the south side of the Thames not just the East End!

The guy with the sine camera at the beginning is my uncle Eric Everest. My Dad was Bill Everest. Anyone know them?

Nice too hear these guys and story's anyone remember the stagg family please reply :)

Be asked to get tin of elbow grease at my first office job

My grandfather was called Dick Tiger Lewis after the boxer i think. My bother was called quick Dick because he talked very fast

Very good

Blimeee... good thing for sub-titles !!

Who is singing the song at the beginning? Its so good

My late fatherinlaw drove for BRS man the stuff he would bring home from the docks early 60s-70s

whats the song

My Ex father in law was a lighterman as was his father and brother. The Peeks

666 likes... Don't worry I got you

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I think would have preferred this as a career instead of being chained to a desk 7 hours a day