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About His Majesty's Watermen

A brief history of Royal Watermen

Origins

Royal watermen stem from the same ancient origins as working Thames watermen. Early man was forced by circumstance to pioneer Watermanship, the hunter-gatherer lifestyle of our ancestors meant that they were faced with to cross water in its various forms, It was therefore these ancient people who developed the skills to build and handle the rafts and boats needed to carry their goods and themselves across water obstacles. When man settled into encampments, he needed to be near a source of water, not only for drinking, but also for ease of transport of his goods. Families within these communities became experts in the mysteries of the various skills necessary for survival. One family by necessity developed the knowledge and expertise required to use the nearby waterway, a raft or boat being the most efficient way of transporting heavy loads. This family would pass the skills and secrets of boat handling, methods of propulsion, navigation and the knowledge of the tides down through the generations. This passing on of expertise through the family being the very earliest form of apprenticeship.

The Celts were great users of the river for trading, not only between their own local hamlets dotted along the river, but as is now known, they also traded far and wide in small boats with many parts of what we now call Europe, using the Thames as an early port. There can be no doubt that the Celtic Leaders used the river as the most comfortable and fastest means of transport through the area, especially when compared with the alternatives such as horse, carriage, or on foot. By nature, they would have competed with each other for dominance, wanting the fastest possible boat with the most lavish decoration, to give them status and to show their importance and authority. They would also have used specialised men from the river family to row these exclusive vessels.

Painting of a Waterman

The River

The Thames, formed as it was by the last ice age, became the natural highway through the area and was much used from the very earliest times by the tribes and peoples who settled in this lush and fertile valley. Through time the affluent high status families of the area developed fast boats called Shallops, with which to enhance their use of the river as a natural highway and also as the way to parade their wealth and importance. They lavishly decorated these vessels with carvings, gilding and rich carpets. They employed chosen watermen to row and crew their barges and dressed them in lavish livery. They employed Bargemasters to oversee and manage the operation of the barges. The Trading Guilds of The City where also important users of the river and developed large State Barges rowed by18 watermen at the oars, with space on board to carry their Master and Liverymen in great splendour. These Livery Barges were a symbol of their Company’s standing within the trading Guilds of London. Great emphasis was put on the number and the position of their barge within water parades such as the Lord Mayor’s Showing. They dressed the barges with ornate decoration to demonstrate the power and importance of their trading guild.

To become a Royal Waterman today, only Thames journeymen who are earning their living working on the river and wish to be considered for the honour of appointment can apply, they must write to the Lord Chamberlain’s office at Buckingham Palace offering their service to The Monarch. If after interview they are chosen as one of the 24 watermen in service, they will be fitted with Royal livery and be called for duty by H.M. Bargemaster for various duties. As rowing is the sport of their guild, most Royal Watermen have taken part in Thames regattas in both Fine-Boat and Traditional Rowing events. The most famous of these being Thomas Doggett’s Coat and Badge Wager. This is the only remaining wager race for professional watermen initiated in 1715 to honour the first Hanoverian King George 1st. Many of H.M. Watermen have gone on to race at international standard at Henley and other regatta. During the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, apart from several Doggett’s winners, H.M. Bargemaster Bert Barry was professional World Champion in 1927. H.M. Bargemaster Ken. Dwan competed in two Olympic Games 1968 and 1972. H.M. Waterman Robert Prentice rowed in the Cross Atlantic race on two occasions.

Royal Barges

It is in 1215 that we have the first written evidence of a Royal Barge on the Thames. King John was attended by his Barge at Runnymede for the signing of Magna Carta, thus indicating that a system of Royal Household water transport was in existence at this early date. There is also evidence that the Royal Bargemaster at this time was a member of Court and acted more like the Comptroller of The Monarch’s Barge. He would be the contact between The King and the eight oarsmen. The Bargemaster’s uniform of today is still based on Court Dress. Royal Bargemasters at this time were in fact not from waterman stock, but from who were known as “The Superiors”. They were more like overseers of the vessel and crew and would truck (deal) directly with the owner, detailing what was required of the Barge that day, such as the passage times, any stops on route and the destination. He would pass these instructions to the senior waterman in the crew, usually seated as the stroke-giver, who would then quietly control the oarsmen and be in charge of any manoeuvring of the boat in close quarters, this he would do from his rowing position. It is therefore from this written record that the Royal Watermen take 1215 as their preliminary date. To honour this 800 years of service, HM Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh visited Watermen’s Hall in 2015, as this date also coincides with the 500th anniversary of Henry VIII act of parliament to regulate the Wherrymen of the Thames.

The most important present-day responsibility for H.M. Watermen, is delivering The Crown and Jewels of State to Westminster for The State Opening of Parliament. The Crown and Regalia were originally rowed down from Hampton Court Palace, or later from the Tower of London in the Royal Barge, with The Crown displayed on a plinth in for all to see. Like many events which took place on the river, this event became a victim of London’s use of the Thames to carry away the City’s sewerage, creating “The great stink” of 1858. The river became unusable for ceremonial events or as the East West highway. At today’s State Opening of Parliament, the State Regalia is taken to Westminster in the Crown Procession ahead of The Queen’s procession from Buckingham Palace. This consists of two carriages, the first caring The Crown, The Sword of State and The Cap of Maintenance. The second carrying The Maces of State. Royal Watermen, who have followed this duty ashore from the original river duty, proudly man these carriages in memory of the former Royal Barge responsibility. On arrival at Westminster, the Royal Jeweller retrieves The Crown from its carriage plinth and ceremonially passes it to the Royal Bargemaster, He accepts The Crown and waits until the Palace Comptroller disembarks from the carriage, he then presents the Crown on its travelling cushion to the Comptroller who proceeds into the building. The exceptional honour of holding The Crown bestowed on H.M. Bargemaster indicating the historical importance of this appointment.

The Royal Watermen also jealously guard other duties, which in the past took place on the river but are now carried out by road carriage. One such duty is a State Visit. You can imagine in the days of sailing ships, a visiting VIP or foreign King would arrive by ship in the pool of London and the Royal Barge would be dispatched to transport him to one of the riverside palaces, there to be received by The King or Queen of the day.. The ship would probably be in port for some days while the visitor prepared for his State Visit. The Bargemaster would then be ordered to take the Royal Barge to the ship and transport the visitor to the receiving Palace. The visit would be unhurried, much more leisurely than today’s visit of a Head of State. It is interesting to recognise the tempo of life of those times. Today the V.I.P. is collected from the airport by car, taken to meet The Monarch at a short ceremony, within minutes he or she with their entourage are embarked into carriages for the State Ride. Royal Watermen man some of the coaches in memory of their original river duties. After the State Ride to Buckingham Palace or if at Windsor to that Palace, It makes one realise the quickened pace of life in our modern times.

In 1264 there is mention of the Royal Barge. Queen Eleanor of Castile being disliked by the citizens of London, was attacked with stones dropped onto her barge while she was being rowed through London Bridge causing the Barge to capsize. The Queen was saved by the quick action of the Lord Mayor. The records show that one of the Ladies of The Bed Chamber was drowned but do not reveal if any of the Royal Watermen were lost in this incident.

King Edward II who reigned between 1547 and 1553 is reported using his barge on many occasions. During his reign, there was an incident which might possibly account for Royal Household watermen being given the unusually high status of Royal Appointments. The King was afloat with his barge on the river Fleet when river brigands attacked him. The King was defended by his watermen who then rowed him to safety, it is thought possible that he may have honoured them by changing their “chosen men” status to personal Royal Appointments.

The names of men who served their Monarch over the last 800 years are mostly lost in the mist of time, but records show that many Royal Watermen have a claim to fame, some for their prowess in the sport of rowing, some have built large riverboat Companies and others distinguished themselves as river pilots and tug captains. John Taylor 1578-1653, was Waterman to four Kings and a Dictator. John Broughton 1704-1789, was a famous bare-knuckle prise-fighter and formed the Queensbury rules for Boxing. One modern name jumps to mind, Mr. Edwin Hunt MVO who died at the age of 101 in 2022. This man had an exemplary WWII record. Being responsible as an Army water-transport Major for delivering and placing the harbour pontoons used for the D. Day landings. Although their trade was exempted from service, many watermen volunteered for service in the world wars and served with distinction.

The early Royal Watermen were not content just to hold the office but were also businessmen.  Their business interests included, owning and running a ferry at Greenwich, property interests and exporting lampreys. Lampreys are a type of jawless fish, which resemble eels. Their previous claim to fame being that King Henry I is reported to have died from eating an excess of them!

Holding the appointment of Waterman to His/Her Majesty has many rewards and distinctions. However, in the past one big advantage of holding this Royal Appointment was that they were exempted from service in the Royal Navy, meaning that they could not be taken by the notorious press gangs who plagued the Thames watermen for many centuries.

Much more information on this subject is available from Watermen’s Hall.

By R G Crouch MVO