Comments on: Among The Thames Lightermen https://spitalfieldslife.com/2015/09/09/among-the-thames-lightermen/ In the midst of life I woke to find myself living in an old house beside Brick Lane in the East End of London Sun, 20 Feb 2022 18:05:14 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 By: Jim Gifford https://spitalfieldslife.com/2015/09/09/among-the-thames-lightermen/#comment-1449935 Sun, 20 Feb 2022 18:05:14 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=138072#comment-1449935 Hi Kate – whilst known as Jim my actual name is James Jarvis Gifford and I am a direct descendent of William Jarvis Gifford. I believe I have his will and indenture papers – very happy for you to contact me about the family.

]]> By: Kate Williams https://spitalfieldslife.com/2015/09/09/among-the-thames-lightermen/#comment-1355135 Wed, 14 Oct 2020 14:36:23 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=138072#comment-1355135 My Gt Gt Grandfather, his father and his father were all Lightermen and Watermen on the Thames.
All 3 generations were known by the names James Jarvis Gifford.
They lived in Deptford and Greenwich.
I have also traced a William Gifford (b. 1810) whom I believe was my x5 Gt Grandfather who was also a Lighterman on the Thames.
If anyone knows of the family etc, I would really love to hear about them.
Thank you

Kate

]]> By: Kate Williams https://spitalfieldslife.com/2015/09/09/among-the-thames-lightermen/#comment-1355132 Wed, 14 Oct 2020 13:54:42 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=138072#comment-1355132 My Gt Gt Grandfather, his father and his father were all Lightermen and Watermen on the Thames.
Their names – all 3 generations were James Jarvis Gifford.
They were from Deptford and Greenwich.
I have also traced a William Gifford whom I believe is my X5 Gt Grandfather (1810) who was also a Lighterman on the Thames.
If anyone knows of the family, I would love to hear about them, past or present.
Thank you

Kate

]]> By: Russell Edgecock https://spitalfieldslife.com/2015/09/09/among-the-thames-lightermen/#comment-1349739 Fri, 14 Aug 2020 22:52:32 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=138072#comment-1349739 Great photos and very interesting read.
I have til now found 8 Lightermen in my family dating through the Victorian period into the Edwardian. All by my Mother’s maiden name Taylor, they were Fathers, sons and uncles living along the Thames mainly the Southwark, Lambeth and Battersea areas.
I’m interested to find out who they worked for if not themselves, one in particular a Joseph Taylor. Through research, I’ve found out that he was working on the installation of the temporary bridge at Vauxhall in the late 1890’s. The central span of the temporary bridge was built by the Thames Ironworks and Shipbuilding company at Blackwall and was transported up river using a converted Greenwich ferry. Lighters/tugs were there to manoeuvre the iron central span into position and fix to the piers.
Is there any way I can find out about who Joseph Taylor worked for or any work records at all?
Thankyou in advance

Russell

]]> By: Brian Baker https://spitalfieldslife.com/2015/09/09/among-the-thames-lightermen/#comment-1249592 Sun, 06 Jan 2019 20:08:50 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=138072#comment-1249592 I was a Waterman & Lighterman and yes , wonderful job with many friends. It was a family affair. Great days and greatly missed. I look back on those bygone years with an enormous amount of gratitude and feel proud that I was part of a wonderful occupation.

]]> By: Tess bullock https://spitalfieldslife.com/2015/09/09/among-the-thames-lightermen/#comment-1127479 Tue, 03 Jan 2017 22:38:07 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=138072#comment-1127479 Harry Bullock labour Master Humphrey and Gray
Remember him?

]]> By: Tess bullock https://spitalfieldslife.com/2015/09/09/among-the-thames-lightermen/#comment-1127478 Tue, 03 Jan 2017 22:35:57 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=138072#comment-1127478 My father was labour master at Humprey and Gray lighterage company in 1955
Any records available to confurm above information.

Please help
From his devoted daughter Tess

]]> By: Ellen Whittle https://spitalfieldslife.com/2015/09/09/among-the-thames-lightermen/#comment-1032409 Mon, 05 Oct 2015 12:21:34 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=138072#comment-1032409 You may be interested in a row of cottages that were built for Watermen and Lightermen of the Thames in 1888 in Ditchling, Sussex. No watermen living there now, but rented out at a reasonable rent to local people.Have taken some photos that I can forward to you. Unfortunately, no one seems to know anything about it’s history or when the last Thames river worker lived there.
Thought you’d be interested. Loved the above article. My husband was (still is ) a member of barking Rugby club and many lightermen were keen members. Now died or retired.

]]> By: Jeffrey Blum https://spitalfieldslife.com/2015/09/09/among-the-thames-lightermen/#comment-1021947 Wed, 16 Sep 2015 14:51:14 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=138072#comment-1021947 Thank you for a fascinating insight into this vital tradition. As a Londoner, I used to work with Rhine barges in Basel and Rotterdam during my apprenticeship over 40 years ago and I am still thrilled to see cargo barges on the Thames, as I do understand how important all lightermen are. Thanks also for those fantastic photos.
My maritime college students will benefit from your article.
Regards
Jeffrey Blum
Director, Maritime Education & Training Ltd
http://www.metl.london

]]> By: BeckyB https://spitalfieldslife.com/2015/09/09/among-the-thames-lightermen/#comment-1019559 Sun, 13 Sep 2015 09:33:02 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=138072#comment-1019559 Fascinating as always, but particularly for me as one of my great great grandfathers was a waterman.

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