I am pleased to announce a new commission by Thame Festival Trust to make photographic portraits of those who work – and have worked – at London’s boatyards.
The commission is part of a Thames Festival Trust heritage project on London’s boatyards, working with their partner, the Museum of London. The project will examine and document the rich history of boatbuilding along the tidal Thames, from the Thames Barrier up to Teddington Lock.
Drawing on personal reminiscences of those who have worked at the boatyards, this project will bring to light this important history, so much of which has yet to be uncovered. The project will explore the living memory of these yards particularly within the last fifty years, when so many have been forced to close or be redeveloped. The project seeks to document the skills and innovations of boatbuilding which made the London boatyards so significant, as well as making valuable film and photographic documentation, and oral history recordings of boatyards, many of which have been under-threat of disappearing.
For more information on the project, see Totally Thames website and read the first blog post of the project.