The
River Thames is the heart of London, a source of its growth, an important piece
of its structure and a key element in its identity. After decades of neglect,
London is rediscovering the potential of the river as an economic and public
asset; however nature will remind us every now and then that its stronger
than man and very unpredictable.
General Facts: -
The River Thames...
- Is the second longest river in the UK.
- Rises in the Cotswold Hills in Gloucestershire and flows into the North Sea between Essex and Kent.
- Is the most known of Britain’s rivers (because it flows through central London; It also flows through some other important towns and cities in England, such as Richmond, Kingston upon Thames, Windsor, Henley-on-Thames, Oxford and Reading.)
- Is approximately 346 km.
- Is tidal when it flows through London.
- Has more than 80 islands contained in it. (These include: the Isle of Sheppey, Canvey Island and Rose Isle.)
- Was referred by the Celts as Tamesas (or Tamesis), which meant ‘dark’.
- Provides two thirds of London’s drinking water.
- Has several tributaries, (including the River Churn, Windrush, Cherwell, Thame, Loddon and Mole. Several rivers also join the Thames after it has become tidal. These include: the River Brent, Effra, Westbourne and Fleet.)
- Is home to many different types of creatures. (Lots of birds can be found at different points along the Thames from the source to its mouth such as herons, moorhens, grebes, kingfishers and coots. The Thames also supports lots of different fish species, such as trout, chub, roach, pike and many more.)
- Was famously described by John Burns as ‘liquid history’. (He meant that the Thames was responsible for supporting settlements around its banks throughout history, as it witnessed the birth of London and many key events starting from the Neolithic times until today.)
- The Thames has been bridged more than 200 times and it has been tunnelled under more than 15 times. Many of today’s bridges have been built on the site of much earlier crossing points.
Early Settlers :-
The river provided a route for settlers and invaders. As a settlement, London barely existed before the arrival of the Romans. They found the location of London very suitable, were they could be near the river for a good source of water and plenty of trade. By the year 140 London, circled by a great wall for defense, was the capital of Britannia and the most powerful center for crafts with mediaeval Guilds and Livery companies. After Romans decline London had been taken over by the Franks, Picts, Scots and Saxons.
During the 16th Century, London was prosperous as a result of exploration and discovery abroad, in which the Thames played a very important role.
- provided means of transport for boats that carried goods and people
- communication, drainage and water supply
- The water supported a thriving fish population
Henry VIII was responsible for many changes to London including the addition of palaces and hunting grounds like Green Park and Hyde Park He was also responsible for the south of London becoming a cultural area, however the North remained un prosperous which led to division of Londoners. The river acted as means of dividing the city, along political and social lines.
By 1610, despite London’s wealth, the city became extremely crowded, disease increased and with open drains flowing into the river, the water was no longer fit for drinking.
Disasters:-
Disasters struck London in 1665 by the Great Plague followed by the Great fire in 1666. By the end of the 17th century London was transformed from a timber-built mediaeval port into a classical city, made of bricks and mortar. But for the poor of London, misery continued, especially with the water supply. The choice remained between a polluted Thames and a frozen Thames. Between 1564 and 1814, the river froze six times as the weather grew colder and glaciers in northern Europe advanced.
Disasters struck London in 1665 by the Great Plague followed by the Great fire in 1666. By the end of the 17th century London was transformed from a timber-built mediaeval port into a classical city, made of bricks and mortar. But for the poor of London, misery continued, especially with the water supply. The choice remained between a polluted Thames and a frozen Thames. Between 1564 and 1814, the river froze six times as the weather grew colder and glaciers in northern Europe advanced.
In 1858, the river also known as the Great
Stink was extremely stinky that the House of Commons sittings had
to be abandoned. By the middle of 19th Century, The sewage got carried into the Thames, thus killing all the fish and all
the birds that lived off them.
during the end on the 20th century London regained its prosperous river by sustaining the water and excluding all the toxic and non biodegradable waste out of the water. The results
have been spectacular with the influx of fish and birds.
20th Century :-
The 20th century saw the building
of many of the landmark buildings along the Thames including the Bankside and
Battersea power stations, Waterloo Bridge and County Hall.
After damage during the Second World War, the Festival of Britain was built, followed by the London Eye as well as the Tate Modern, which provide new attractions on the Thames.
Culture and the Thames:-
Early this year the Thames was used as the centre stage in the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations, were there was boats music, singing and fireworks. This wasn't the first royal pageant on the Thames; royalty has used the Thames for celebrations for centuries. The river has also inspired poets, writers, painters and composers for centuries.
• Handel's Water
Music was first performed on George I's barge on 17 July 1717.
• Charles Dickens was a
regular visitor to the Prospect of Whitby pub on the banks of the Thames and
featured the river in his book Our Mutual Friend.
• Jerome K Jerome's classic
book Three Men in a Boat describes a boating holiday on the Thames.
• Grace Fields recorded Old
Father Thames in 1930.
• Tudor poet Edmund Spenser
mentions the river in his poem Prothalamion. Each stanza ends with the line
"Sweet Thames, run softly till I end my song.
• The opening sequence of the
BBC's long-running soap "East Enders" features a map of London
showing the very recognizable bends of the Thames
Significance of theThames:-
Why did people live near the River then and now?
Then
|
Now
|
Fresh water to
drink
|
Generates electricity by power station
|
Aquatic life was
a good food source
|
Relaxation,
peace and quiet
|
Means of
transportation
|
|
Agriculture and
farming
|
|
Defense against
crusaders
|
|
Carried waste
away from settlement
|
|
Water power
developed an industry
|
|
Trade
|
Resources:
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