Company of Watermen and Lightermen

Watermen's Hall (1778-80), by William Blackburn.

The Company of Watermen and Lightermen (CWL) is a City Guild without Grant of Livery who historically licensed Thames Watermen (now licensed by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency).

Watermen are river workers who transfer passengers across and along city centre rivers and estuaries in Britain and its former colonies. Most notable are those on the River Thames and River Medway, but other rivers such as the River Tyne and River Dee, Wales also had their watermen who formed guilds in medieval times.

Lightermen were workers who transferred goods between ships and quays, aboard flat-bottomed barges called lighters in the Port of London.

Its ancient apprenticeship index^[1] is a unique resource to genealogical research however despite its medieval guild roots it is an active lobbying force today. Working alongside The Passenger Boat Association, it consults and negotiates with national and local government and its agencies on behalf of its members. In 2003 funds were made available via CWL using government grants, to assist apprentices from the riverside east London boroughs of Tower Hamlets and Newham. The Doggett's Coat and Badge, which was first raced in 1715, is the oldest continuously run river race and is now claimed to be the oldest continually staged annual sporting event in the world.^[2]

In 1975 a charity called Transport On Water (TOW) was founded by watermen and lightermen and people in public life. It aims to maintain the Thames and other waterways, including the river Medway, as working rivers. TOW has organised The Thames Barge Driving Race which has taken place annually in June, since 1974.

See also

• Livery Company
• Free Watermen and Lightermen's Almshouses

References

External links

• Company website

Livery companies and guilds in the City of London
Livery companies in order of precedence	Mercers Grocers Drapers Fishmongers Goldsmiths Skinners Merchant Taylors Haberdashers Salters Ironmongers Vintners Clothworkers Dyers Brewers Leathersellers Pewterers Barbers Cutlers Bakers Wax Chandlers Tallow Chandlers Armourers and Brasiers Girdlers Butchers Saddlers Carpenters Cordwainers Painter-Stainers Curriers Masons Plumbers Innholders Founders Poulters Cooks Coopers Tylers and Bricklayers Bowyers Fletchers Blacksmiths Joiners and Ceilers Weavers Woolmen Scriveners Fruiterers Plaisterers Stationers and Newspaper Makers Broderers Upholders Musicians Turners Basketmakers Glaziers and Painters of Glass Horners Farriers Paviors Loriners Apothecaries Shipwrights Spectacle Makers Clockmakers Glovers Feltmakers Framework Knitters Needlemakers Gardeners Tin Plate Workers Wheelwrights Distillers Pattenmakers Glass Sellers Coachmakers and Coach Harness Makers Gunmakers Gold and Silver Wyre Drawers Makers of Playing Cards Fanmakers Carmen Master Mariners Solicitors Farmers Air Pilots Tobacco Pipe Makers and Tobacco Blenders Furniture Makers Scientific Instrument Makers Chartered Surveyors Chartered Accountants Chartered Secretaries and Administrators Builders Merchants Launderers Marketors Actuaries Insurers Arbitrators Engineers Fuellers Lightmongers Environmental Cleaners Chartered Architects Constructors Information Technologists World Traders Water Conservators Firefighters Hackney Carriage Drivers Management Consultants International Bankers Tax Advisers Security Professionals Educators Arts Scholars
Companies without Livery	Parish Clerks (Worshipful Company of) Watermen and Lightermen (Company of) Public Relations Practitioners
Guilds	Entrepreneurs HR Practitioners Nurses
Category:Organisations based in the City of London