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.
Mrs Gina Blair The 194th Master of the Watermen’s Company .
The Watermen’s Company installed its 194th Master, Mrs Gina Blair, on Wednesday, 8th July at Watermen’s Hall. The ceremony was held partly with the Master and some Wardens physically present with the rest of the Court watching on Zoom. A celebratory small lunch observing social distancing followed. Derek Mann was installed as Senior Warden, with Alderman Sir David Wootton, Ted Gradosielski BEM and Mrs Annamarie Phelps CBE as Junior Wardens
A new Diary of Events will be published in due course
Guidance relating to Watermen’s Hall, Company meetings during the 3rd Lockdown
Watermen’s Hall and its offices remains closed. Watermen’s Hall staff are all partly furloughed and when working are doing so from home. The Company’s Court and Committees are meeting on Zoom and there are no Company events planned before the Easter. Company classroom training has been force to stop though there is some “one to
We are pleased to announce that the Company now has a new LinkedIn page. If you are part of the LinkedIn network you can follow us via this direct link.
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
