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|Wednesday, April 1, 2026

River Thames, Central London, United Kingdom

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Flat-Bottom Barges on the Thames: Design and Use

Understand why flat-bottom barges were perfect for the Thames tide and city landings.

12/2/2025

13 min read

Historic flat-bottom freight boat on the Thames

Flat-bottom barge

Low draft, big cargo, easy landings — the city’s freight logic.

Design Notes

Boxy hull for capacity; reinforced chines for durability.
Tug pairing optimized manoeuvres.

About the Author

Thames History Writer

I put this guide together to make your Thames day simple, insightful, and full of local tips.

Tags

Thames

Barges

Freight

History

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