The History of the Woolwich Ferry
It’s hard to believe that there’s been a ferry service of sorts running from Woolwich since the early 14th century largely for commercial use – the area was even mentioned in the Domesday Book.
Image courtesy of Port of London Study Group
When the Royal Arsenal was founded in 1671, there was a significant increase in traffic. By 1810 the army decided to set up its own ferry to transport troops and supplies across the river. In the following year an Act of Parliament facilitated the set up of a commercial ferry company. This eventually became known as the western ferry run by a company calling itself The Woolwich Ferry Company. However, due to its incompetent management the company was disbanded and this ferry operation ceased in 1844.
In the same year, the Metropolitan Board of Works agreed to fund a free service of two steam powered ferries. The Board commissioned the design and construction of the ferries as well as contracting the building of bridges and pontoons and the service was officially opened on 23rd March 1889.
Significant pressure was put on the ferry’s capacity by the end of the 1920s largely due to the increase in motor vehicles. Seen as a risk for bombing resulting from the war, proposals for a bridge were rejected and a third ferry was introduced.
People living in the East End of London felt cut off by the Thames which became a barrier to their travels to the other side because there were only a limited number of routes to cross the river including the Woolwich Ferry. This situation influenced the decision to design and construct the Dartford Crossing. By the 1950s the Dartford Crossing and the Blackwall Tunnel were the quickest way to get across the river even with the three Woolwich ferries operating at full capacity.
In 1963 the ferry service was upgraded and operated using a roll on roll off model where vehicles offloaded from one end as those waiting to board drove on at the other end. This significantly reduced the waiting time on the approach roads.
Image courtesy of Getty Images
Operating under license from Transport for London, Briggs Marine took of the control of the crossing in 2012. Today, the Woolwich Ferry remains a free service for vehicles and pedestrians, transporting around 2 million passengers every year. Although the number of foot passengers has reduced following the construction of a foot tunnel plus the expansion of the Docklands Light Railway, the demand for the service is still extremely high.
Image courtesy of Port of London Study Group
In 2016 Briggs commissioned the construction of a new operations terminal and this contract was awarded to BRAC contracts. Having completed the work without disrupting the ferry service, the new terminal was handed back over to Briggs Marine in early 2017.
As experts in our field BRAC can offer a one stop shop to manage your entire project. We will work with you to combine innovative construction with meticulous craftsmanship, breathing new life into your building. Our skilled team offers valuable input into cost-effective, space-maximising solutions, renewable energy initiatives, environmental measures and safe, efficient project management.
If you would like to discuss this project or a project that you feel is suitable for BRAC Contracts then please contact Adam Clark on adam@brac-contracts.co.uk or telephone 01268 573933.
To see more information on construction of the Operations Terminal please click here.
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