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From: "Philip Whittington" <>
Subject: [ENG-THAMESWATERMEN] Custom House Regatta
Date: Wed, 16 Jan 2008 17:48:36 -0000


Dear All,

I have access through my place of work to various newspapers and came across the Custom House and City of London Regatta held on 20th September 1857.

Names mentioned - Benjamin Garth, Alfred Ross,Charles Wood, Thomas Myers and John and Christopher Brockwell (who are my ancestors).

I'm ashamed to say that despite having waterman ancestors going back to at least 1742 I don't quite understand who won!

'Garth was fouled by one or two boats so that Myers came up level with him, while Brockwell was going away. Garth meeting with an accident or two more, Myers kept up with him and was only a length astern at finishing' So did Brockwell win?

The prize was a new skiff, value twenty two pounds and fifteen pounds to be distributed among the other men. All collected from influential people of the neighbourhood.

The distance rowed was from London Bridge to St Katherine's Dock buoy, up round a vessel above the Custom-House, down again to St Katherine's and finishing at Custom-House stairs.

I hope this is of interest to someone.


Denise Whittington

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