Woolwich Ferry - Photographs & Postcards



This page is devoted to the Woolwich Ferry between Woolwich and North Woolwich.
This is one a of series of Simplon Postcards pages devoted to River Thames Excursion Boats & Ferries.

For details of the Woolwich Ferry service see:- www.greenwich.gov.uk

The Woolwich Ferry links Woolwich in the London Borough of Greenwich with North Woolwich in the London Borough of Newham, across the River Thames. The Woolwich Ferry was planned and constructed by The Metropolitan Board of Works. Ownership of the Metropolitan Board of Works passed to London County Council (LCC) two days before the ferry was opened on 23 March 1889. Responsibility passed to the Greater London Council (GLC) on 31 March 1965. After the abolition of the GLC in 1986, operation of the ferry passed to Greenwich Council who run it on behalf of Transport for London (TfL).

The first two ships were the paddle steamers Gordon (1) and the Duncan built in 1888 by R.H.Green. The Hutton joined them in 1893, built by William Simons and Co Ltd. The Gordon (1) was named after General Gordon (1833-1885), the hero of Khartoum, who was born in Woolwich and studied at the Academy. The Duncan was named after Colonel Francis Duncan (1836-1888), author of 'The History of the Royal Artillery'. The Hutton was named after Charles Hutton (1737-1823), professor of mathematics at the Woolwich Academy.

In 1922 the two original boats were replaced by two new ones Squires and Gordon (2). The Squires was named after William James Squires, twice mayor of Woolwich and and a one time chairman of the Woolwich Building Society. In 1930 two new boats were added, Will Crooks and John Benn. William Crooks (1852-1921) was Woolwich's first labour MP. He also served on the LCC and was Mayor of Poplar. Sir John Benn (1850-1922), was an ancestor of Tony Benn MP. A member of the LCC from its creation in 1889 and its chairman from 1904-05, he was also MP for Devonport for six years.

In 1963, three new diesel ferries were delivered, John Burns, Ernest Bevin and James Newman. Initially they side-loaded using the old pontoons. New end-loading terminals opened on 20th September 1966. Ernest Bevin (1881-1951) was a trade union pioneer and MP for Woolwich. John Elliot Burns (1858-1943) led the great dock strike of 1889. James Newman was a Mayor of Woolwich. These vessels are still in service. The four vessels they replaced were scrapped in Belgium. In 2004 proposals for a new bridge, the Thames Gateway Bridge, close to the location of the Woolwich Ferry, received funding. If this is built, it will replace the ferry by 2013.

Contact: www.greenwich.gov.uk

Ships on this Page:-
Gordon (1) (1888-1922)
Duncan (1888-1922)
Hutton (1893-1923)
Squires (1922-1963)
Gordon (2) (1922-1963)
Will Crooks (1930-1963)
John Benn (1930-1963)
John Burns (1963- )
Ernest Bevin (1963- )
James Newman (1963- )

Thames Passenger Boat Pages:-
River Thames Excursion Boats - Thames Header Page - Full List of Companies
Colliers Launches - Westminster-Kew-Hampton Court services - Thames River Boats
Ed Langley - Westminster-Kew-Hampton Court services - Thames River Boats
French Brothers - services between Maidenhead and Hampton Court, plus Thames charters
JGF Passenger Boats - Walton-on-Thames
Joseph Mears - Westminster-Kew-Hampton Court services 1907-1945 - passed to Thames Launches
King Cruises - Westminster-Kew-Hampton Court services - Thames River Boats
Maynard Launches - Westminster-Kew-Hampton Court services - Thames River Boats
Turk Launches - Richmond-Kingston-Hampton Court services plus Thames charters
www.greenwich.gov.uk - Woolwich Ferry official website

Associated Pages:-
UK Excursion Ships
Ferry Postcards
Cruise Ship Postcards
Ocean Liner Postcards
Simplon Postcards - Recent Updates
Simplon Postcards - Home Page

References:-
www.yellins.com/woolwichferry
Free for All - A Celebration of 100 Years of the Woolwich Free Ferry: Written by Julian Watson & Wendy Gregory - published by Greenwich Libraries 1989
Royal River Highway: Written by Frank L. Dix - published David & Charles 1984
Trip Out Guides - Written and published by G.P.Hamer - various editions from 1977 to 2005 consulted Trip Out Guides are available from Geoffrey Hamer, PO Box 485, Southall, UB1 9BH

Search This Website:-
powered by FreeFind Woolwich Ferry Gordon (1) Duncan Hutton
The first two ferries were the paddle steamers Gordon (1) and the Duncan built in 1888 by R.H.Green. The Hutton joined them in 1893, built by William Simons and Co Ltd. The Gordon (1) was named after General Gordon (1833-1885), the hero of Khartoum, who was born in Woolwich and studied at the Academy. The Duncan was named after Colonel Francis Duncan (1836-1888), author of 'The History of the Royal Artillery'. The Hutton was named after Charles Hutton (1737-1823), professor of mathematics at the Woolwich Academy. Postcard of Gordon (1) Click to open larger image in new window


Postcard of Duncan



Postcard of Duncan
Click to open larger image in new window



Molyneux (Woolwich) postcard of Hutton
Click to open larger image in new window



Molyneux (Woolwich) postcard of Hutton
Click to open larger image in new window



Postcard of one of the first series of ferries



Postcard of one of the first series of ferries




Postcard of one of the first series of ferries







Squires
Gordon (2)

In 1922 the two original boats were replaced by two new ones Squires and Gordon (2). The Squires was named after William James Squires, twice mayor of Woolwich and and a one time chairman of the Woolwich Building Society.


Postcard of Gordon (2)




Postcard of Squires








Will Crooks
John Benn

In 1930 two new boats were added, Will Crooks and John Benn. William Crooks (1852-1921) was Woolwich's first labour MP. He also served on the LCC and was Mayor of Poplar. Sir John Benn (1850-1922), was an ancestor of Tony Benn MP. A member of the LCC from its creation in 1889 and its chairman from 1904-05, he was also MP for Devonport for six years.


Postcard of John Benn



John Benn Photo: © W.D.Chalklin - www.yellins.com/woolwichferry/paddle.htm John Burns
In 1963, three new diesel ferries were delivered, John Burns, Ernest Bevin and James Newman. Initially they side-loaded using the old pontoons. New end-loading terminals opened on 20th September 1966. Ernest Bevin (1881-1951) was a trade union pioneer and MP for Woolwich. John Elliot Burns (1858-1943) led the great dock strike of 1889. James Newman was a Mayor of Woolwich. These vessels are still in service. The four vessels they replaced were scrapped in Belgium. In 2004 proposals for a new bridge, the Thames Gateway Bridge, close to the location of the Woolwich Ferry, received funding. If this is built, it will replace the ferry by 2013. John Burns Photo: © Ian Boyle, 14th June 2006 John Burns Photo: © Ian Boyle, 8th September 2007 John Burns Photo: © Ian Boyle, 25th September 2007 Ernest Bevin

In 1963, three new diesel ferries were delivered, John Burns, Ernest Bevin and James Newman. Initially they side-loaded using the old pontoons. New end-loading terminals opened on 20th September 1966. Ernest Bevin (1881-1951) was a trade union pioneer and MP for Woolwich. John Elliot Burns (1858-1943) led the great dock strike of 1889. James Newman was a Mayor of Woolwich. These vessels are still in service. The four vessels they replaced were scrapped in Belgium. In 2004 proposals for a new bridge, the Thames Gateway Bridge, close to the location of the Woolwich Ferry, received funding. If this is built, it will replace the ferry by 2013. Ernest Bevin Photo: © Ian Boyle, 8th June 2006 Ernest Bevin Photo: © Ian Boyle, 14th June 2006 Ernest Bevin Photo: © Ian Boyle, 8th September 2007 James Newman

In 1963, three new diesel ferries were delivered, John Burns, Ernest Bevin and James Newman. Initially they side-loaded using the old pontoons. New end-loading terminals opened on 20th September 1966. Ernest Bevin (1881-1951) was a trade union pioneer and MP for Woolwich. John Elliot Burns (1858-1943) led the great dock strike of 1889. James Newman was a Mayor of Woolwich. These vessels are still in service. The four vessels they replaced were scrapped in Belgium. In 2004 proposals for a new bridge, the Thames Gateway Bridge, close to the location of the Woolwich Ferry, received funding. If this is built, it will replace the ferry by 2013. James Newman Photo: © Ian Boyle, 8th June 2006 James Newman Photo: © Ian Boyle, 14th June 2006 James Newman Photo: © Ian Boyle, 8th September 2007 James Newman Photo: © Ian Boyle, 25th September 2007 River Thames Header Page UK Excursion Ships - Ferry Postcards - Cruise Ship Postcards - Ocean Liner Postcards Top of Page - Simplon Postcards Recent Updates - Simplon Postcards Home Page �1999-2013 Copyright Ian Boyle/Simplon Postcards (all pages on web site) All Rights Reserved Free Web Counter Times viewed since 6/5/2007: