RomanceEverAfter

Historical Romance Column

For those of us who are fans of historical/gothic romance, we are certainly aware of the importance of the Thames in the history of London. One of my favorite references to the river is when Bess Hardwick in Virginia Henley’s book A Woman of Passion walks along the river and sees some young boys swimming. We are led to believe that one of the boys was Robin Dudley (also known as Robert Dudley). Bess also sees George Talbot (the future Earl of Shrewberry) sunning himself on the grass. In Virginia Henley’s book Dreamlover, Sean Fitzgerald is a prisoner on a ship on the Thames. His job as a diver is to dredge the silt from the bottom of the river. I also learned the only entrance to Traitor’s Gate at the Tower of London is from the Thames.

When talking of the Thames, it brings to mind visions of the barges going up and down the river, stopping at different water steps to allow passengers to disembark. There are several sets of water steps still in existence along the Thames. Water steps and barges play a significant role in the mode of transportation in Jane Feather’s book The Emerald Swan. When Henry of Navarre first meets Maude, he woos her in a barge on the Thames. Maude and her family also ride in the barge for Maude’s first visit to the court of Queen Elizabeth. Tourists can see a barge on display at the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich.

Watersteps - steps lead directly into the Thames. Passengers may disembark from the barge and ascend the steps to the street above the river.

Watersteps and Cuttysalk at Greenwich

London: A Historic Adventure -3>>>