The Shepperton Ferry

By Nick PollardBy Nick PollardBy Nick PollardBy Nick Pollard

This month’s picture, taken from a postcard of operator of the original ferry, William Dunton, This month’s picture, taken from a postcard of operator of the original ferry, William Dunton, This month’s picture, taken from a postcard of operator of the original ferry, William Dunton, This month’s picture, taken from a postcard of operator of the original ferry, William Dunton, c1910, shows the ferry just downstream from complained to the City of London Corporation c1910, shows the ferry just downstream from complained to the City of London Corporation c1910, shows the ferry just downstream from complained to the City of London Corporation c1910, shows the ferry just downstream from complained to the City of London Corporation Shepperton Lock, and the sharp bend (as it still is (who had jurisdiction over the Thames as far as the Shepperton Lock, and the sharp bend (as it still is (who had jurisdiction over the Thames as far as the Shepperton Lock, and the sharp bend (as it still is (who had jurisdiction over the Thames as far as the Shepperton Lock, and the sharp bend (as it still is (who had jurisdiction over the Thames as far as the today) where Ferry Lane meets the Towpath. Be- London Stone at Staines) that he was obliged to today) where Ferry Lane meets the Towpath. Be- London Stone at Staines) that he was obliged to today) where Ferry Lane meets the Towpath. Be- London Stone at Staines) that he was obliged to today) where Ferry Lane meets the Towpath. Be- London Stone at Staines) that he was obliged to side the ferry boat, punts and skiffs for hire, be- maintain the ferry, but his income had been materi-side the ferry boat, punts and skiffs for hire, be- maintain the ferry, but his income had been materi-side the ferry boat, punts and skiffs for hire, be- maintain the ferry, but his income had been materi-side the ferry boat, punts and skiffs for hire, be- maintain the ferry, but his income had been materilonging to Dunton’s boatyard, can be seen moored ally reduced by Hatch having set up in the same longing to Dunton’s boatyard, can be seen moored ally reduced by Hatch having set up in the same longing to Dunton’s boatyard, can be seen moored ally reduced by Hatch having set up in the same longing to Dunton’s boatyard, can be seen moored ally reduced by Hatch having set up in the same along the bank. In the background on the right is business. Hatch was allowed to continue as long as along the bank. In the background on the right is business. Hatch was allowed to continue as long as along the bank. In the background on the right is business. Hatch was allowed to continue as long as along the bank. In the background on the right is business. Hatch was allowed to continue as long as D’Oyly Carte Island. The text on the card was he carried barge horses but not pedestrians. These D’Oyly Carte Island. The text on the card was he carried barge horses but not pedestrians. These D’Oyly Carte Island. The text on the card was he carried barge horses but not pedestrians. These D’Oyly Carte Island. The text on the card was he carried barge horses but not pedestrians. These presumably the cry used by the ferryman to attract complaints continued for several years, but a mem-presumably the cry used by the ferryman to attract complaints continued for several years, but a mem-presumably the cry used by the ferryman to attract complaints continued for several years, but a mem-presumably the cry used by the ferryman to attract complaints continued for several years, but a memcustomers. Nowadays the modern ferry, operated ber of the local Winch family, who were signifi-customers. Nowadays the modern ferry, operated ber of the local Winch family, who were signifi-customers. Nowadays the modern ferry, operated ber of the local Winch family, who were signifi-customers. Nowadays the modern ferry, operated ber of the local Winch family, who were signifiby Nauticalia since 1986, is summoned by a bell. cant owners of barge horses, testified in 1820 that by Nauticalia since 1986, is summoned by a bell. cant owners of barge horses, testified in 1820 that by Nauticalia since 1986, is summoned by a bell. cant owners of barge horses, testified in 1820 that by Nauticalia since 1986, is summoned by a bell. cant owners of barge horses, testified in 1820 that There was probably a ferry across the Thames at Shepperton by the 14th century, when a Purdue (still a familiar name locally) was the ferryman. Clement Coombes is mentioned in the same role in 1624. This would have been at Ferry Square, behind Church Square, adjacent to the Manor House. An old print dating from the mid-18th century shows large flat-bottomed punts being used to ferry foot passengers and horses over the river at ‘if the ferry at the lock was discontinued it would delay the barges very materially and the horses would be obliged to go a considerable distance round’, which rather confirms that the lock ferry was in a better position than the traditional site at Ferry Square. In 1863 there was a local petition for the public ferry to be moved to the lock ferry, by which time a new straight access road had been laid out, now called Ferry Lane. There was probably a ferry across the Thames at Shepperton by the 14th century, when a Purdue (still a familiar name locally) was the ferryman. Clement Coombes is mentioned in the same role in 1624. This would have been at Ferry Square, behind Church Square, adjacent to the Manor House. An old print dating from the mid-18th century shows large flat-bottomed punts being used to ferry foot passengers and horses over the river at ‘if the ferry at the lock was discontinued it would delay the barges very materially and the horses would be obliged to go a considerable distance round’, which rather confirms that the lock ferry was in a better position than the traditional site at Ferry Square. In 1863 there was a local petition for the public ferry to be moved to the lock ferry, by which time a new straight access road had been laid out, now called Ferry Lane. There was probably a ferry across the Thames at Shepperton by the 14th century, when a Purdue (still a familiar name locally) was the ferryman. Clement Coombes is mentioned in the same role in 1624. This would have been at Ferry Square, behind Church Square, adjacent to the Manor House. An old print dating from the mid-18th century shows large flat-bottomed punts being used to ferry foot passengers and horses over the river at ‘if the ferry at the lock was discontinued it would delay the barges very materially and the horses would be obliged to go a considerable distance round’, which rather confirms that the lock ferry was in a better position than the traditional site at Ferry Square. In 1863 there was a local petition for the public ferry to be moved to the lock ferry, by which time a new straight access road had been laid out, now called Ferry Lane. There was probably a ferry across the Thames at Shepperton by the 14th century, when a Purdue (still a familiar name locally) was the ferryman. Clement Coombes is mentioned in the same role in 1624. This would have been at Ferry Square, behind Church Square, adjacent to the Manor House. An old print dating from the mid-18th century shows large flat-bottomed punts being used to ferry foot passengers and horses over the river at ‘if the ferry at the lock was discontinued it would delay the barges very materially and the horses would be obliged to go a considerable distance round’, which rather confirms that the lock ferry was in a better position than the traditional site at Ferry Square. In 1863 there was a local petition for the public ferry to be moved to the lock ferry, by which time a new straight access road had been laid out, now called Ferry Lane. this point. this point. this point. this point. While the current situation prevails, Sunbury and While the current situation prevails, Sunbury and While the current situation prevails, Sunbury and While the current situation prevails, Sunbury and After Shepperton Lock opened in 1813, the first lock keeper, William Hatch, started to operate a ferry there. This must have been a lot more convenient if the towpath changed banks at this Shepperton Local History Society continue their talks programme for members on Zoom. If you would like to join, please see the website www.sslhs.org.uk for details. After Shepperton Lock opened in 1813, the first lock keeper, William Hatch, started to operate a ferry there. This must have been a lot more convenient if the towpath changed banks at this Shepperton Local History Society continue their talks programme for members on Zoom. If you would like to join, please see the website www.sslhs.org.uk for details. After Shepperton Lock opened in 1813, the first lock keeper, William Hatch, started to operate a ferry there. This must have been a lot more convenient if the towpath changed banks at this Shepperton Local History Society continue their talks programme for members on Zoom. If you would like to join, please see the website www.sslhs.org.uk for details. After Shepperton Lock opened in 1813, the first lock keeper, William Hatch, started to operate a ferry there. This must have been a lot more convenient if the towpath changed banks at this Shepperton Local History Society continue their talks programme for members on Zoom. If you would like to join, please see the website www.sslhs.org.uk for details. point, as it does today. Not surprisingly, the point, as it does today. Not surprisingly, the point, as it does today. Not surprisingly, the point, as it does today. Not surprisingly, the

Thanks to the boys of local company Platinum Roofing for putting up the Christmas light on the parade. They did it of their own accord and in their spare time.

Under normal circumstances we would have had the Christmas market and the Salvation Army to play us into the Christmas season, but at least we had the lights. It was also lovely to see van Wonderen’s little Christmas village in the shop window. That brought delight to many. And of course we had the Green Street Christmas house! More than ever, we felt that Sunbury had made an effort to bring light into a gloomy period of our lives. Here’s hoping 2021 is going to be a great year, one of solutions and getting back to normality. We will without a doubt be thankful for that, but perhaps the suspension of normal life has made us appreciate things all the more.