The horse ferry between Westminster and Lambeth at the foot of the modern
Horseferry Road was certainly a ferry for horses, carried over on large
shallow punts. It was of such importance that according to documents in
Lambeth Palace Library the ferrymen were exempted from being pressed into
the navy. There were schedules of tolls according to the number of horses
carried and whether a vehicle was drawn or not.
>From: "[log in to unmask]" <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: "From: Local-History list" <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Horse ferry
>Date: Mon, 24 Feb 2003 20:11:20 -0000
>
>There is a point on the river Yare at Gorleston were there is purported to
>have been a "horse ferry". Some argue it was where horses were hired to
>cross the river and so remain dry. I believe it was more likely a raft
>type of ferry powered by horses on either bank pulling it back and forth.
>Although the the river which is tidal, may in earlier times before there
>was a river wall, been sufficiently shallow at low tide at this point, I
>don't think it would be feasable at any time other than the bottom of the
>tide.
>
>Please can somebody give me information on "Horse ferries" and how they
>were operated?
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