Ferries across the Thames at Woolwich

Nobody really knows when the first ferry was used to cross between the banks of the River at Woolwich reach, but it is believed that this may have been the crossing point for travellers from Colchester to Dover and as far back as the Iron Age.

The first official record of a Ferry service was in the 14th century.

This old and very run-down looking shop was at time a Butchers Shop in the mid 19th Century.

It is a Grade Two Listed Building in Water Lane, E.15.

It is said that under the adjacent Houses, were cellars where the meat was stored.

Cattle were driven down from East Anglia, and Stratford was the last nights top-over before the cattle was driven in to London to be sold at Smithfield Meat Market

Statford as it was in the 18th century.

From the collection of Newham Heritage Services.