The Company of Watermen and Lightermen of the River Thames was founded in 1514, when the earliest Act of Parliament for regulating watermen, wherrymen and bargemen received Royal Assent from King Henry VIII.
Under a further Act of 1555 the Company introduced apprenticeships for those wishing to learn the skills of the Watermen. In 1700 the Lightermen (carriers of goods/cargo) joined the Watermen’s Company.
In 1780 The Company moved into its own purpose built hall in St Mary at Hill, where we can still be found today. The Company is a working guild and is very actively involved with the life of the River and those who work on it. The Company is governed by a Court of Assistants, led by the Master and four Wardens, who are elected annually by the Court.
Master’s Installation July 2021
The Master is pictured above, with his Wardens and the Clerk Ms Julie Lithgow
Derek Mann, a working Waterman with more than 50 years’ experience on the River, was installed as the 195th Master of the Watermen’s Company on 14 July 2021.
Junior Wardens Ted Gradosielski BEM, Ted Manning and Tim Keech took their oaths, and Alderman Sir David Wootton was installed as Senior Warden at the October Court meeting.
Following the ceremony, attended by the Wardens and Court, a small celebratory lunch was held.
The Master and his good lady Ms Iara Spinelly pictured in the Court Room .
DOWN RIVER TRIP – 26 JANUARY 2022 – Westminster Pier
We still have places available for this free trip. Apprentices and Freemen of the Company are welcome to attend. On the day: All attendees will need to be at Westminster Pier by 10.45am for departure at 11.00am Apprentices will complete a worksheet on board, upon completion an attendance certificate will be issued and must bring
Watermens’ Hall is a beautiful Georgian building, but due it its age we have some accessibility restrictions within the building. Currently our lift is out of service, and we are unable to provide step free access to the Hall and our dining rooms. We are really sorry for the impact this will have on visitors,
Watermen’s Hall is one of the City of London’s finest venues for conferences, banquets, receptions, award ceremonies, business meetings, wedding receptions, private dining and silver service luncheons for up to 80 people.
This 18th century Georgian Hall graces the City with its historical elegance and spaces to suit every occasion.
Please contact Mark Grove at The Cook and The Butler, either by phone or email, for all hiring enquiries:
Telephone: 020 7620 1818
Fax: 020 7620 1820
For more information about our rooms click on the link below
