The all female RNLI crew from Beaumaris speak to us about the importance of volunteering and the RNLI’s 200th year. To celebrate and raise money they are participating in this year’s Great River Race.
Trinity Buoy Wharf: Then & Now
Since 1998 Trinity Buoy Wharf has become a centre for arts and culture in East London under the leadership of Urban Space Management. However, the site’s history goes back much further. While today Trinity Buoy Wharf is filled with artists and other creative organisations, from 1803 until 1988 it was home to the Corporation of Trinity House – the authority for lighthouses in England and Wales. They were the ones who built many of the buildings that Urban Space Management have now repurposed for the arts. Find out about what they were used for and why they were built in this short film incorporating archive material dating back to Victorian times.
Great River Race – Dittons Skiff & Punting Club
Dittons Skiff and Punting Club is a local club run by members for members offering the traditional river sports of skiffing and punting at Thames Ditton.
TheatreShip
Theship has become a new public space, reflecting the rich history of the docks, while looking forwards to a future of live events and lively community. The ship features a spacious exhibition space on the upper deck, a characterful community café bar on the lower deck, and a 110 seat theatre.
St Katherine’s Dock Classic Boat Festival
The annual St Katharine Docks Classic Boat Festival is boating extravaganza hosts over 50 beautiful vintage and exquisitely preserved vessels assemble in the historic central and west basins. These include the war heroes, the Dunkirk Little Ships, motorboats from the Bates Starcraft range and other impressive working vessels, including historic tugs and a Navy P2000 vessel.
Hands-on History
Over the years, mudlarks have discovered a wild and enlightening range of artefacts from the working history of London’s riparian thoroughfare. Jason Sandy talks about Royal Bargemasters, river taxis and more, through his river finds. Monika Buttling-Smith leads an artefact object-handling session.
Eel Pie Island: Tales from Beyond the Bridge
From rock royalty to French nobility, boatbuilders to inventors, entrepreneurs to authors, all can be found on EelPieIsland.
Sheep Drive
A long-established charity event, celebrating a Freeman’s ancient “right” to bring sheep to market over the Thames, toll free; all in aid of raising funds for The Woolmen Charity and The Lord Mayor’s Appeal. The Fair offers visitors the opportunity to learn all about the Sheep Drive and the wonderful causes it supports and where livery and specialist wool companies celebrate their trades with interactive displays and sales of their wares.
Mudlark Art with Sculpture Billie Bond and FatherThames
Flowing through the heart of Central London towards the sea, the River Thames was once the largest port in the world and vital transportation link between London, the British Empire and the rest of the world. The busy, congested port was filled with ships and boats of all sizes, from large ocean-going vessels, importing and exporting cargo around the globe, to small row boats with watermen transporting passengers from one side of the river to the other.
