Lambeth Pier facts for kids
Lambeth Pier is a special landing spot for boats on the Albert Embankment in London, England. It sits right next to Lambeth Bridge on the south side of the River Thames. For hundreds of years, this pier has been a busy place. It was once part of a ferry service, helping people cross the river. Today, it's a popular spot for fun boat rides and river cruises.
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History of Lambeth Pier
Early River Crossings
People have been using this spot to land boats since Roman times! It was a very important crossing point. The Archbishop of Canterbury, a very important church leader, often used it to travel between his home at Lambeth Palace and the Westminster Palace.
The Horse Ferry Service
By 1513, a special ferry for horses was working here. This was rare because only a few places along the Thames could handle such a service. Imagine a boat big enough for horses! This horse ferry had some bad luck. It sank in 1633 and again in 1656. During one sinking, it was even carrying the coach of Oliver Cromwell, a famous English leader. Later, in the Glorious Revolution, Mary of Modena, a queen, used this ferry to escape to France. The ferry service stopped in 1750 when Westminster Bridge opened, making it easier to cross the river.
Fun River Trips Today
After the ferry service ended, Lambeth Pier found a new purpose: fun trips along the Thames! In the 1800s, many steamboats would stop here. In 1961, a training school for Decca Radar, a company that makes radar systems, moved nearby. The pier itself was moved further into the river in 1860. This happened when the Albert Embankment was built, which is a wall along the riverbank.
By the 1980s, companies like Capital Cruises were running boat trips from Lambeth Pier. Today, you can still take exciting river tours from here. Companies like Thames Cruises and Tidal Cruises have been offering pleasure services from Lambeth Pier since the 1980s, letting people enjoy the sights of London from the water.
