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Freitag, April 3, 2026
River Thames, Zentrales London, Vereinigtes Königreich
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Old London Bridge: River Traffic and Tolls

How wherries and barges moved goods under and around Old London Bridge, and what tolls meant to the city.

1/12/2026
15 min read
Historic depiction of Old London Bridge with boats below

Old London Bridge and boats

Pinch points and currents

Narrow arches created shoots where experienced watermen steered; novices waited for slack tide.

Daily traffic

  • Fish, grain, timber
  • Stone, wool, imported goods
  • City folk crossing by ferry when bridge was crowded

Tolls & Control

  • Payments kept bridge repairs funded; disputes common.
  • Experienced watermen timed shoots through arches.

Safety Then vs. Now

  • Narrow flows demanded skill; today’s traffic is signalled and controlled.

Über den Autor

Thames History Writer

Thames History Writer

Ich habe diesen Guide zusammengestellt, damit dein Tag auf der Themse einfach, aufschlussreich und voller lokaler Tipps ist.

Tags

Thames
Old London Bridge
Wherries
Barges

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