Leonard Bentley
Charing Cross Pier
A Valentine Company's postcard dating from 1906 or 1907 showing the view from Hungerford Bridge looking downstream towards the old Waterloo Bridge. The London County Council Paddle Steamer "Caxton" is moored at Charing Cross Pier whilst another LCC Paddle Steamer steams passed on her way to Westminster Pier. The LCC riverboat service was the last all year round commercial passenger service on the Thames, the LCC couldn't make it pay in 1907 and no one else has since then. It could be argued that several mid 19th Century riverboat operators did make it pay but this was before the advent of the Underground and improved bus and Tram services. On weekdays the service started from Hammersmith Pier and Greenwich Pier at 7am and continued until 6.30pm. Every one of the twenty three Piers would receive upstream and downstream boats every 15 minutes. There were earlier boats for workmen at lower fares, the whole journey from either end cost 5d and a return ticket cost 8d. The "Caxton" was built by Napier & Miller & Co in Glasgow, after the collapse of the service in 1907, the "Caxton" was sold in June 1909 for £975.00 to C.A. Stewart & Co in London.
Charing Cross Pier
A Valentine Company's postcard dating from 1906 or 1907 showing the view from Hungerford Bridge looking downstream towards the old Waterloo Bridge. The London County Council Paddle Steamer "Caxton" is moored at Charing Cross Pier whilst another LCC Paddle Steamer steams passed on her way to Westminster Pier. The LCC riverboat service was the last all year round commercial passenger service on the Thames, the LCC couldn't make it pay in 1907 and no one else has since then. It could be argued that several mid 19th Century riverboat operators did make it pay but this was before the advent of the Underground and improved bus and Tram services. On weekdays the service started from Hammersmith Pier and Greenwich Pier at 7am and continued until 6.30pm. Every one of the twenty three Piers would receive upstream and downstream boats every 15 minutes. There were earlier boats for workmen at lower fares, the whole journey from either end cost 5d and a return ticket cost 8d. The "Caxton" was built by Napier & Miller & Co in Glasgow, after the collapse of the service in 1907, the "Caxton" was sold in June 1909 for £975.00 to C.A. Stewart & Co in London.