The Thames through Time

For over 2,000 years, the Thames has dominated the lives of Londoners.

This 6-part series from Mosaic Films brings the history of the river alive with stories which link the past with the present and show how the capital's river has shaped the lives of ordinary working people since Roman times.

Tuesdays, ITV1 at 7.30 pm(London and the home counties) 1. Workhorse of the Estuary: The Thames sailing barge 9th November 2. Boom and Bust in Docklands: London's port through time 16th November 3. Secrets from the Foreshore: Archaeology at the Tower 30th November 4. Race of the River Taxis: London's Great River Race 14th December 5. London's Living River: Swan upping and conservation 21st December 6. For Richer for Poorer: Oysters from river to restaurant 28th December Directors: Daniel Waring & Paul Henley Series Producer: Peter Firstbrook Mosaic Films, 8-12 Broadwick Street, London W1F 8HW tel: 020 7437 6514 info@mosaicfilms.com fax: 020 7494 0595

Episode 1 - Workhorse of The Estuary

The Thames sailing barge was the original Workhorse of the Estuary. In the 1890's there were thousands of sailing barges working the river Thames & providing central London with all kinds of goods - from timber for building to hay to feed the thousands of horses that worked on London's streets.

Since the introduction of container ships and freight lorries, the Thames sailing barge has sadly been made redundant. Today, only 30 of these elegant sailing craft survive - mainly as charter boats and comfortable homes for the people who lovingly restore them.

Every year, approximately a dozen of these sailing barges descend upon Southend on Sea to take part in the annual Southend Sailing Barge Match. Sailing barge matches have been taking place on the Thames from the 17th century and the races took place to secure work for the skippers as a way to secure work for the skippers. The fastest crews won the best jobs and were paid more.

In this episode we follow the crew of the sailing barge 'Adieu' as she battles for a prize against the other barges, but there's a problem - no wind. Will all the barges make it around the course and will the Adieu gain a coveted trophy?

Further out to sea there's plenty of wind for barge skipper Steve Norris as his vessel regularly runs sailing charters for the sea farers and tourists alike. It gives people a chance to see what if feels like to catch the wind and put all hands on deck and rigging to get the barge out to the old war forts in the estuary. It's journeys like this that keep the sailing barges alive, earning their keep from pleasure seekers taking a glimpse into a bygone age.

Combining expert interviews, rare archive and exclusive behind the scenes footage from these fun voyages, 'Workhorse of the Estuary' provides a real insight into the past importance of the Thames sailing barge through these lively contemporary stories.

Characters: Grant Littler - Southend race organiser and race official Steve Norris - Owner and skipper of Greta (Whitstable) Stan Yates - Former working bargeman Jimmy Lawrence - Former working bargeman and skipper of the Adieu on race day Ian Ruffles and Rachel - Restoring the Oak

(Images courtesy of Mosaic Films)