Michael Zazzal
Dimensions
History of the Thames River

The Thames River has become an important element in the lives of all the people that have come and gone on the English Island.  It has fueled both the economy by providing a convenient way of travel and has promoted trade along the river and even out towards other civilizations.  It has become apart of British history and part of its mythology.  Earlier on in British civilization the druids often used the river for religious ceremonies and ways to predict events.  The river was and is an integral part of London and all of British civilization from before the time of the druids up until today.  London was created from the traffic on the Thames River in a place where it was easy to cross the river and not to far from the mouth of the river before it spills into the ocean. 

The Thames, or Tamesis as it was once called, is the earliest British river mentioned in Roman history. It rises at Thames Head in Gloucester shire and winds some 220 miles on its course to the sea. It has Oxford shire, Buckinghamshire, Greater London and Essex on its left bank; and Wiltshire, Berkshire, Surrey, Greater London and Kent on its right bank. From Teddington Lock to the sea, the Thames is tidal, with the tide ebbing and flowing four times every twenty-four hours. The force of the tide is very great and can be seen rushing through the arches at Blackfriars Bridge.

The Thames River is a potent symbol of constant change and progress as it flows through Britain and into the sea. It has been witness to many of the key events in the history of Britain and it's people. As a source of food, corridor for invasion, center for leisure or workhorse of industry, the Thames today continues to powerfully remind us of our collective history.

The Thames River in Britain’s early history was a very sacred place.  Many people probably even before the druids would often leave items in the river for an offering to the river or another god.  Often leaving their most precious possessions in the river. These are called votive offerings. We know this because thousands of ancient flint tools, swords and daggers have been found in the Thames, especially in the upper reaches in London.

The Thames has been a very important highway through southern England for centuries and as a lowland meandering river it has been changed or managed by people in order to control its levels and route. The Thames was so important to our economy that there have been laws governing its use since 1065 and the first appointed body to oversee it was created in 1620. The direct successor to that commission is the Thames Region Environment Agency. There have been locks (or ways for boats to pass by obstructions) on the Thames for at least 800 years. Today the locks are managed by the Environment Agency. We have lock keepers letters, which tell us about life at the locks in the 19th century.