A well-contested rowing-match on the Thames, is a very lively and interesting scene. The water is studded with boats of all sorts, kinds, and descriptions; places in the coal-barges at the different wharfs are let to crowds of spectators, beer and tobacco flow freely about; men, women, and children wait for the start in breathless expectation; cutters of six and eight oars glide gently up and down, waiting to accompany their PROTEGES during the race; bands of music add to the animation, if not to the harmony of the scene; groups of watermen are assembled at the different stairs, discussing the merits of the respective candidates; and the prize wherry, which is rowed slowly about by a pair of sculls, is an object of general interest.
    Two o'clock strikes, and everybody looks anxiously in the direction of the bridge through which the candidates for the prize will come - half-past two, and the general attention which has been preserved so long begins to flag, when suddenly a gun is heard, and a noise of distant hurra'ing along each bank of the river - every head is bent forward - the noise draws nearer and nearer - the boats which have been waiting at the bridge start briskly up the river, and a well-manned galley shoots through the arch, the sitters cheering on the boats behind them, which are not yet visible. 
    'Here they are,' is the general cry - and through darts the first boat, the men in her, stripped to the skin, and exerting every muscle to preserve the advantage they have gained - four other boats follow close astern; there are not two boats' length between them - the shouting is tremendous, and the interest intense. 'Go on, Pink' - 'Give it her, Red' - 'Sulliwin for ever' - 'Bravo! George' - 'Now, Tom, now - now - now - why don't your partner stretch out?' - 'Two pots to a pint on Yellow,' &c., &c. Every little public-house fires its gun, and hoists its flag; and the men who win the heat, come in, amidst a splashing and shouting, and banging and confusion, which no one can imagine who has not witnessed it, and of which any description would convey a very faint idea.

Charles Dickens, Sketches by Boz, 1836

see also Charles Manby Smith in The Little World of London - click here

see also London : A Pilgrimage - Chapter 5 & Chapter 6 on the Boat Race - click here

Rowing has for many years been most popular among London athletes, and, like every other kind of physical exercise, has greatly increased in public esteem during the last few years. Not to mention the University Boat Race, the extraordinary vogue of which is perhaps more due to a kind of craze in the public mind than to any love of aquatic sport for its own sake, good boat-racing on the Thames always attracts a vast number of spectators. Such a sight as the river presented when, for instance, Oxford and Harvard, or London and Atalanta, fought out their memorable battles has rarely been seen. On Saturday afternoons, when the tide is favourable, above bridge the river swarms with boats, and the races among the members of the numerous clubs make things very lively. At such times a walk on the towing-path about Putney or Barnes is a pleasant change for the Londoner; but it is necessary to bear in mind that the tide occasionally rises very quickly and very high about Putney and Hammersmith, and that the towing-path under such circumstances has an uncomfortable way of disappearing under water. High tide at Putney is about three-quarters of an hour later than at London-bridge. The best points from which to see the great boat-races are just above Hammersmith-bridge, opposite Chiswick Church, or Barnes-terrace, and at the Ship at Mortlake, a little above which the winning-post generally is. Thirteen years ago a large sum of money was subscribed by members of the London amateur clubs, and valuable challenge prizes were bought for competition annually at the Metropolitan Amateur Regatta. The regatta takes place shortly after the great meeting at Henley, as a rule, but has never quite answered the expectations of its founders. There is also a good regatta every summer for professionals and “tradesmen’s” clubs; and Barnes and Mortlake Amateur Regatta is usually an excellent afternoon’s sport. But the stranger to London aquatics who wishes to see the river at its best should select one of the championship races between professional scullers, especially if London and Newcastle are pitted against each other, and should endeavour to secure a place on one of the accompanying Steamers. Putney, Barnes, and Mortlake are all reached (twenty minutes to half an hour) by the South-Western Railway; and at Hammersmith there is a Station of the Metropolitan Railway. Omnibuses also run to Fulham, which is just opposite Putney, and to Hammersmith. Boats may be hired at almost any point on the river from London-bridge upwards, the best places being at Chelsea, Wandsworth, Putney, Barnes, Richmond, and Kingston. For particulars respecting the delightful trip from Oxford to London, see THAMES. The principal clubs on the London Thames have been for many years able to hold their own against college and even university crews at Henley and elsewhere, and one of the oldest of them—the famous London Rowing Club—even succeeded, twenty years ago, in beating Oxford and Cambridge Universities in the two days of Henley Regatta. The old club, which has performed the extraordinary feat of winning the Steward’s Cup at Henley for four oars on ten occasions during the last eleven years, and has produced some of the most famous oarsmen of modern times, such as Casamajor, the three Playfords, Stout, Long, Ryan, Fenner, Gulston, and many others, still takes the lead In London aquatics. It has recently been run very hard by the Thames Rowing Club, which is as strong in pluck and energy as it is in numbers. The oldest of all the London clubs except, perhaps, that of the Westminster boys, is the Leander which is principally composed of past university oarsmen, and it is probably owing to a desire to rest from their labours undertaken on behalf of their colleges and universities, that its members rarely appear at regattas. The Ilex is another old, but much smaller club, which also rarely appears in public. Letters to the secretaries of all these clubs may be addressed to Putney. At Hammersmith will be found, among others, the Inn and North London Clubs; and Wandsworth is the head-quarters of the West London, a club which has the credit of having originated many years ago the athletic sports which are now so interesting a feature in London life. At Chiswick is the Grove-park Rowing Club, a young and promising institution; and the head-quarters of the Kingston Rowing Club and the Twickenham Rowing Club are indicated by their respective names; the former being noteworthy as having won the Wyfold Cup for fours at Henley from 1863 to 1868 inclusive. Entrance fees and subscriptions to all these clubs are on a very moderate scale. In addition to the above purely amateur clubs there is a whole host of so-called “tradesmen’s” clubs with a large professional leaven. There are also good clubs on the Lea, head-quarters as a rule at Lea-bridge, either at the “Jolly Anglers” or Green’s, although that river cannot be recommended for rowing purposes in comparison with the Thames. The principal Lea clubs are the Alexandra, Albion, Vesper, Orion, Hackney, and Neptune. Clasper and Salter of Oxford (the former also at Wandsworth), Biffen of Hammersmith, and Messenger of Kingston, are the principal builders of boats for London men; the last-named having a specialty for comfortable gigs and skiffs for “journey” rowing, as it is generally called, as distinguished from racing. Information as to rowing matters may be readily found in all the sporting papers, the reports of races in the Field being exceptionally well done; and rowing men in London are particularly fortunate in their special organ, the “Rowing Almanack,” an annual published at the Field office and edited by one of the best practical judges of rowing and matters aquatic in England. Canoeing may be called an off-shoot of rowing, and the canoe club is to be found at Moulsey, where there is also a good rowing club. At Kingston is also established a boat sailing club, which shows occasionally good sport under considerable difficulties.

Charles Dickens (Jr.), Dickens's Dictionary of London, 1879

[ ... back to main menu for this book]

Yachting.—The magnates of the Royal Yacht Squadron or of the Royal Victoria Yacht Club are apt to allude in somewhat disparaging terms to Thames yachting, but there is no doubt that the Royal Thames and the Royal London Clubs have exercised a great deal of influence over yachting in English waters. Thames sailing is peculiar, and it requires a skilful pilot to grapple with the curious difficulties of sands and tide which are to be met with on the voyage from Gravesend round the Mouse. Those who have seen the Lower Hope or Sea Reach in bad weather, with a gale of wind blowing and the tides running-against it, will not be slow to admit that, especially on board one of the smaller craft, the Thames yachtsman wants skill and pluck as much as his brother who sails the open waters of the southern coasts. The principal London yacht clubs are the Royal Thames, which has a club-house in Albemarle-street. Station, Thames; headquarters, club-house. Entrance: yacht owners, £15 15a., non-owners, £21. Subscriptions: yacht owners, £5 5s. ; non-owners, £7 7s. The Royal London; station, Thames; head-quarters, 22, Regent-street. Entrance fee, £10 10s.; subscription, £6 6s. The New Thames; station, Thames; headquarters, Caledonian Hotel, Adelphi. Entrance fee, £5 5s.; subscription, £3 3s. The Junior Thames; station and head-quarters, Greenhithe. Entrance fee £1 1s.; subscription, £1 1s. The Corinthian; station and headquarters, Erith. Entrance fee £1 1s.; subscription, £1 1s. The Nore Yacht Club; Station and club-house, Gravesend. Entrance fee, £2 2s. ; subscription, £2 2s. Among the features of the London yachting season are the races from Southend to Harwich and vice versa and the Royal Harwich may also be classed among Thames yacht clubs. The head-quarters are naturally at Harwich. Entrance fee, £1 1s.; subscription £1 1s. The burgees of the above clubs are as follows: Royal Thames, blue and white cross with crown; Royal London, blue with City arms and crown; New Thames, dark blue with phoenix; Junior Thames, white with blue cross; Corinthian, blue with wreath; Nore, blue with cross and anchor; Royal Harwich, blue lion rampant. The matches of the larger clubs take place in May or June, and if a stranger wishes to see Thames yachting at its best, he should endeavour to obtain a ticket for the club steamer accompanying one of the races for cutters, or schooners and yawls. Tickets for these steamers can only be obtained through members of the respective clubs, but, a reference to the advertising columns of the newspapers will generally discover one or more boats chartered on these occasions for the accommodation of the general public.  

Charles Dickens (Jr.), Dickens's Dictionary of London, 1879

Charles Dickens (Jr.), Dickens's Dictionary of the Thames, 1881

Boat Racing, Laws of, as settled and approved by the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, and the principal boat clubs in London, on the 20th March, 1872.
    1. All boat races shall be started in the following manner: The starter, on being satisfied that the competitors are ready, shall give the signal to start.
    2. If the starter considers the start false, he shall at once recall the boats to their stations; and any boat refusing to start again shall be disqualified.
    3. Any boat not at its post at the time specified shall be liable to be disqualified by the umpire.
    4. The umpire may act as starter, as he thinks fit; where he does not so act, the starter shall be subject to the control of the umpire.
    5. Each boat shall keep its own water throughout the race, and any boat departing from its own water will do so at its peril.
    6. A boats own water is its straight course, parallel with those of the other competing boats, from the station assigned to it at starting to the finish.
    7. The umpire shall be sole judge of a boat's own water and proper course during the race. 
    8. No fouling whatever shall be allowed; the boat committing a foul shall be disqualified.
    9. It shall be considered a foul when, after the race has commenced, any competitor, by his oar, boat, or person, comes in contact with the oar, boat, or person of another competitor; unless, in the opinion of the umpire, such contact is so slight as not to influence the race.
    10. The umpire may, during the race, caution any competitor when it, danger of committing a foul.
    11. The umpire, when appealed to, shall decide all questions as to a foul.
    12. A claim of foul must be made to the judge or the umpire by the competitor himself before getting out of his boat.
    13. In case of a foul the umpire shall have the power: (a) To place the boats - except the boat committing the fool, which is disqualified - in the order in which they come in; (b) to order the boats engaged in the race, other than the boat committing the foul, to race over again on the same or another day; (c) to restart the qualified boats from the place where the foul was committed.
    14. Every boat shall abide by its accidents.
    15. No boat shall be allowed to accompany a competitor for the purpose of directing his course or affording him other assistance. The boat receiving such direction or assistance shall be disqualified at the discretion of the umpire.
    16. The jurisdiction of the umpire extends over the race and all matters connected with it, from the time the race is specified to start until its final termination, and his decision in all cases shall be final and without appeal.
    17. Any competitor refusing to abide by the decision, or to follow the directions of the umpire, shall be disqualified.
    18. The umpire, if he thinks proper, may reserve his decision provided that in every case such decision be given on the day of the race.

Charles Dickens (Jr.), Dickens's Dictionary of the Thames, 1881

Boats and Boatbuilders. - A comparison of the rates of charges of some of the principal boat builders on the Thames shows the price of racing-boats, including oars, sliding-seats, &c., to average as follows: Eights, £60 ; fours, £35; pairs £22; and scullers' boats, £15. The prices of the other kinds of boats vary considerably according to length, material, fittings required, &c., so that it to impossible to give the price with any exactness ; but a pair-oared gig or skiff, built of deal and mahogany, 22 feet long, with one pair oars, one pair sculls, one boathook, two mats, cussion, back-rail, &c., complete, may be taken at £23; if built of oak and mahogany, or mahogany alone, at £25. The charges for hiring vary so much according to the class of boat required, and many other circumstances, that no useful list of prices can be compiled. Among the principal yards for building or letting may be mentioned those of Messrs. Salter, Oxford; Clasper, Oxford, and "The Feathers," Wandsworth; Searle and Sons, Stangate; Phelps, Peters and Co., Unity Boat-house, Putney; Biffen, Mall-road, Hammersmith; - Messum, Richmond ; Wheeler, Richmond; Messenger, Surbiton; and Tagg, Moulsey.- (For cost of railway carriage of boats and canoes see RAILWAY ARRANGEMENTS.)

Charles Dickens (Jr.), Dickens's Dictionary of the Thames, 1881

Barnes and Mortlake Amateur Regatta was originally founded in 1852, and has been held every year since without intermission. Since 1868 it has been under the management of the Barnes and Mortlake Amateur Regatta Club (subscription, £1 1s. ; election by ballot, one black ball in five excludes). The president of the club is the Duke of Teck. Tradesmen's races and scratch eights at one time figured in the programmes, hut both have of late years been abolished. The barge Maria Wood is annually used as a grand stand, and steamboats are also engaged to accompany the races. The course is between Maynard's boat-house at Strand-on-the-Green and Barnes railway-bridge, a distance of about one and a half mile, and races are rowed up or down according to the tide. About £100 worth of prizes is annually distributed, and for the senior four-oared race there is a challenge cop, value £75. The races are senior and junior fours, senior and junior pairs, senior and junior sculls, and an eight-oared race for oarsmen who have never won a sensor race. Entries are generally plentiful, and the regatta is invariably one of the most successful of the year. The hon. sec. is Mr. E. C. Morley, of Barnes, who has held the office for nineteen years.

Charles Dickens (Jr.), Dickens's Dictionary of the Thames, 1881

Championship of the Thames (Amateur) - The possession of the Wingfield Sculls, a challenge prize instituted in 1830 carries with it the amateur championship of the Thames. The course was originally from Westminster to Putney. In 1849 the long course from Putney to Kew was selected. Twelve years later the University course between Putney and Mortlake was adopted, and the race has been rowed there ever since. In 1880 Mr. F. L. Playford resigned, and on the the 14th of July Mr. A. Payne, Molesey BC., beat Mr. J. Lowndes, of Derby School, and Mr. C. G. White, of Dublin, after a terrific race with the former. Time 24 min. 2 sec.

Championship of the Thames (Professional) - The first race rowed for the Championship of the Thames was in 1831, C. Campbell being the first to bear the title of Champion. Up to 1865, races for the Championship of the Thames were very properly rowed on the metropolitan water ; but in 1866, when Hamill came over and challenged Marry Kelley, the title of the race became the Championship of the World, and the matches took place indifferently at Putney and at Newcastle. Its 1877 the race was actually rowed on the Paramatta River, New South Wales, and in the same year a Challenge Cup was given by the proprietor of the Newcastle Daily Chronicle, with the understanding that instead of there being distinct Championships of the Thames and Tyne, the two titles should be merged into that of Champion of England. In, 1878 J. Higgins succeeded in winning this cup a sufficient number of times to enable him to claim it as his own property. In 1878, the Sportsman newspaper gave another cup, which was first won by W. Elliott, and in 1879 was taken to Canada by Hanlan, whose property it finally became after his defeat of Laycock at Putney, Feb.14, 1881. In 1880 Hanlan beat Trickett very easily over the Putney course, and proved himself fully worthy to rank among the best of the champions.

Charles Dickens (Jr.), Dickens's Dictionary of the Thames, 1881

Doggett's Coat and Badge. - This wager for young watermen out of their time was instituted by Thomas Doggett, the well-known actor of Drury-lane Theatre, at the first anniversary of the accession to the throne of George I., August 1, 1715. Doggett's prize was an orange-coloured coat and silver badge, on which was emblazoned the horse of Hanover, and at his death he bequeathed a sum of money to be devoted to further prizes. At present the Fishmongers' Company, who administer Doggett's trust, give £6 6s. to the winner in addition to the coat and badge, and prizes for the fourth, fifth, and sixth men respectively, £2 2s., £1 11s. 6d., and £1 6s. The second man receives £5 5s., and the third £3 3s., derived from various sources. The original conditions of the wager were that the six competitors to whom it was limited should be chosen by lot from the whole body of men who should put down their names as desirous of rowing. This arrangement was, although not until the lapse of a very great number of years, deemed to be unfair, and would-be competitors now row three trial heats from Putney to Hammersmith, the first and second in each heat being entitled to row in the final, which takes place on August 1st when not a Sunday. 
    The course is against tide, from the "Swan," at London Bridge, to the "Swan," at Chelsea, when the current is strongest, according to the original conditions, and when the race is really rowed under these circumstances it is a "stiffish pull."

Charles Dickens (Jr.), Dickens's Dictionary of the Thames, 1881

Grove Park Rowing Club, Chiswick. - Amateur. Election by ballot in committee, one "negative vote" in five to exclude. Entrance fee, a £1 share in the Grove Park Boat-house Company (Lim.). Subscription £1 11s. 6d; honorary members. £1 1s. Colours, red, black and yellow. Club-house, Grove-park, Chiswick.

Charles Dickens (Jr.), Dickens's Dictionary of the Thames, 1881

Ilex Rowing Club. - Amateur. Election by ballot, one black ball in five excludes. Subscription £2 2s. per annum, and "an equal share of any further expenses which may be incurred." The Ilex Swimming Club originated with the Ilex Rowing Club. Boat-house, Phelps, Peters & Co., Putney. Colours, black and red horizontal stripe; badge, acorns and oak-leaves; motto Labor ipse voluptas.

Charles Dickens (Jr.), Dickens's Dictionary of the Thames, 1881

Kensington Rowing Club - Head-quarters, Biffin's, Hammersmith. Election by ballot, either at general or committee meeting; two adverse votes at a committee, or four at a general meeting, excluding. Entrance fee, 10s. 6d. Subscription, 30s. acting members, 21s. honorary members. Boathouse, Biffin's, Hammersmith, Colours, pink and black.

Charles Dickens (Jr.), Dickens's Dictionary of the Thames, 1881

Leander Club.- This old-established rowing-club won the Grand Challenge Cup at Henley in 1840, the second year of the establishment of the regatta, and has therefore attained quite a venerable old age. In 1875 and again in 1880 the "Brilliants" carried off the Grand Challenge, having, in the interim, won the Stewards' Cup in 1849. The club consists of members and honorary members; the subscription for the former is £2 2s., for the latter £1 1s. Members of the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge are only liable to a subscription of 10s. 6d. per annum so long as they are resident undergraduates. The election of members is entrusted to the committee. Colours, red. Boathouse, Biffen's, Hammersmith.

Charles Dickens (Jr.), Dickens's Dictionary of the Thames, 1881

London Hospital Rowing Club, Hammersmith. Subscription: Effective members, 10s. 6d.; hon. members, "not less than 10s. 6d." Candidates for membership shall become members on giving in their names and subscriptions to the secretary. Boat-house, Biffen's, Hammersmith. Colours, red and black stripe. Badge, red and black oar, serpent and garter. Motto, Celer et certus.

Charles Dickens (Jr.), Dickens's Dictionary of the Thames, 1881

London Rowing Club, Putney - Was founded in 1856, and, in 1869, for the purpose of borrowing funds for the erection of a new boat-house, the members formed themselves into the London Boat-house Co., Limited, which was duly incorporated in January, 1870. The new house was opened in January, 1871, and some additions Were made to it in 1875. The sum expended was nearly £3,000, and the money was raised by debentures, some of which are drawn by lot for payment in each year. The number of members is upwards of 500. The club has liberally supported regattas, &c., and subscribed £520 out of a total of £750 for the establishment of the Metropolitan Amateur Regatta, which is now managed by the committee of the club. The claims of professional oarsmen and scullers have also been recognised, the London Rowing Club having given prizes for the Sons of the Thames, and for the Apprentices' Coat, Badge, and Freedom, at the Thames Regatta, besides minor prizes for young scullers. The Thames Regatta having become extinct, the coat, badge, and freedom are rowed for at the annual club regatta. A reference to the list of winners of challenge cups at Henley, Barnes, and the Metropolitan Amateur Regattas will show that the members of the London Rowing Club have known how to hold their own in the best company, and it may be added that they have, on fourteen occasions, carried off the Wingfield Sculls, the symbol of the Amateur Championship of she Thames. 
    The election of members is by ballot in general meeting, one black ball in five excludes. Entrance £2, being the cost of a share in the Boat-house Co., on which  there is no further liability. Subscription, £2 2s. A payment of £15 15s. at the time of election, or of £7 17s. 6d. after five years' membership, constitutes a life-membership. The share reverts to the company on resignation, forfeiture, or expulsion of a member. Sons, brothers, or nephews of members may be elected by ballot in general meeting under certain restrictions as cadet members, but the cadet member at the time of his election must not be less than ten years of age, and not more than sixteen he must be able to swim, and cadet membership ceases at the age of  eighteen. Cadets pay no subscription or entrance fee. Boathouse, Putney. Colours, blue and white vertical stripes. Members who have passed an examination, and have qualified as "oarsmen" are also entitled to wear a silver badge. 

Charles Dickens (Jr.), Dickens's Dictionary of the Thames, 1881

Lower Thames Rowing Club.- Established at Greenwich in 1879. Entrance fee for  working members, 10s. 6d.; annual  subscription, £1 11s. 6d., payable on the 1st of January. Hon. members pay an annual subscription of £1 1s. Members are elected by ballot in general meeting, one black ball in five excluding. Colours, black and light blue. Club house, Crown and Sceptre Hotel, Greenwich.

Charles Dickens (Jr.), Dickens's Dictionary of the Thames, 1881

London Sailing Club.- Club-house, the Rutland Hotel, The Mall, Hammersmith. The officers are commodore, vice-commodore, treasurer, and hon. secretary, who with seven members constitute the committee both for sailing and general purposes. Election is by ballot in general meeting, one black ball in four excludes. Entrance fee, 5s. Subscription: owners of boats, £1 1s.; non-owners, or honorary members, 10s. 6d. Burgee, blue with yellow dolphin.

Charles Dickens (Jr.), Dickens's Dictionary of the Thames, 1881

Metropolitan Amateur Regatta, Putney. This regatta, which was founded in 1866, arose out of a challenge given by the West London Rowing Club to the London Rowing Club in the previous year for a junior eight-oared match. Other clubs connected with the then existing Amateur Rowing Clubs Association joined in, and several crews started with the result that the final heat from Putney to Chiswick Church was won by the London Rowing Club crew, the Thames being second, and the West London third. The event was so successful that it was decided to establish an annual regatta on the Putney water, and a large amount being collected amongst the members of the associated clubs and others, valuable - perhaps even too valuable - challenge prizes were bought, and the regatta was duly started under the management of the association. That body, however, experienced the fate that has befallen so many attempts at combination amongst amateur clubs, and was in a short time dissolved. Since then the management of the regatta has been in the hands of the London Rowing Club, the members of which subscribe and collect among their friends by far the greater portion of the money required to carry on the regatta. For some reason or other the full measure of success which was anticipated by its promoters has never quite attended the meeting, which takes place on the first available tide after Henley, when it is high water at about 5 pm., that is to say. University oarsmen can very rarely be induced to keep in training after the up-river regatta, and the form of the metropolitan competitors is generally pretty well ascertained before the men go to the post at Putney. Nevertheless a fair day's sport is generally provided, a variety of races having been added to the original programme, and plenty of interest is excited among tide-way rowing men, even if the attitude of the general public may be best described as one of listless indifference. The course - about a mile and three-quarters - is from Putney to Hammersmith, or vice versa, according to the state of the tide.

Charles Dickens (Jr.), Dickens's Dictionary of the Thames, 1881

Metropolitan Railway Rowing Club, Hammersmith. Election: Either majority at the general meeting on election of officers, or afterwards by the officers. Boathouse, Biffen's, Hammersmith. Colours, blue and violet.

Charles Dickens (Jr.), Dickens's Dictionary of the Thames, 1881

New Thames Yacht Club, Club-houses, Caledonian Hotel, Adelphi, W. C.. and Gravesend. The object of the club is the encouragement of yacht building and sailing on the river Thames; and the funds of the club are appropriated, after payment of the necessary expenses, to the providing of prizes in money or otherwise to be sailed for by yachts on the river Thames. The members elect, and one black ball in five excludes. The club is managed by commodore, vice commodore, rear-commodore and treasurer, who are ex officio members of every committee with a sailing committee of fourteen and a house committee of six. The entrance fee is £5 5s. and subscription £3 3s. The club burgee is blue with gold phoenix; ensign blue with gold phoenix.

Charles Dickens (Jr.), Dickens's Dictionary of the Thames, 1881

North London Rowing Club, Hammersmith. - Election is by ballot in general meeting: one black ball in five excludes. Entrance fee, £1 1s. ; subscription, £1 10s. Colours, dark blue and light blue vertical. Boathouse, Biffen's Hammersmith.

Charles Dickens (Jr.), Dickens's Dictionary of the Thames, 1881

Occidental Rowing Club, Hammersmith. - Election by ballot of members, not less than fifteen to vote, one black ball in five to exclude. Entrance fee 10s. 6d.; subscription, £1 10s.  Head-quarters, Biffen's. The Mall, Hammersmith. Colours, blue, black and gold diagonals.

Charles Dickens (Jr.), Dickens's Dictionary of the Thames, 1881

Royal London Yacht Club, 22, Regent-street, London, S.W.-The object of this club is the improvement of yacht building and the encouragement of yacht sailing. The election is by ballot, one black ball in four excludes. The officers are commodore, vice-commodore, rear-commodore and cup-bearer. The general affairs of the club are managed by a committee consisting of the flag-officers, cup-bearer, and not exceeding twenty-four members of whom three shall form a quorum. Entrance fee, £4 4s. subscription, £4 4s. Burgee, blue with crown over City arms; ensign, blue with crown over City arms in the fly.

Charles Dickens (Jr.), Dickens's Dictionary of the Thames, 1881 

Royal Thames Yacht Club, 7, Albemarle - street. - The object of this club is the encouragement of yacht building and sailing on the River Thames, and the funds are appropriated, after payment of necessary current expenses, to the purchase of prizes to be sailed for. The officers are a commodore, vice-commodore, rear-commodore, three trustees, secretary, cup-bearer and three auditors; the commodore, vice-commodore, rear-commodore, and trustees are ex-officio members of all committees. The secretary is a paid officer. The subscriptions are, for members who have joined the club prior to the 1st May, 1874, £5 5s.; for members admitted after the above date £7 7s., except in the case of a candidate owning, on being elected a member, a yacht of or exceeding the lowest tonnage classed in the club matches, whose subscription shall be £5 5s. The entrance fee is £21, except in the case of yacht owners, who only pay £15 15s. The election is by ballot in committee, eight members form a quorum, and one black ball in four excludes. The general committee of management consists of twenty-one members, exclusive of the ex officio members, five to form a quorum. The ensign and burgee of the club are thus defined by Rule 21: The club flag shall be the blue ensign of Her Majesty's fleet agreeably to a warrant dated 24th July, 1845, granted to the club by the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty; the burgee shall be blue with a white cross, and a red crown in the centre; the hoist of the ensign to be two-thirds of the length, the burgee to be always hoisted with the club ensign.

Charles Dickens (Jr.), Dickens's Dictionary of the Thames, 1881 

Temple Yacht Club, Club-house, Anderton's Hotel, Fleet-street. - The officers of the club consist of a commodore, vice-commodore, rear-commodore, treasurer, cup-bearer, and hon. secretary, who with six members form the committee. Election is by a ballot of members, and one black ball in four excludes. None but amateur yachtsmen are admitted members of the club. The club flag is a blue burgee, with a yellow-winged horse rampant.

Charles Dickens (Jr.), Dickens's Dictionary of the Thames, 1881 

Thames National Regatta. - For watermen. Was established twenty-five years ago, and remained one of the principal professional regattas of the year until 1866, when the old organisation by which it was conducted broke up. In 1868 the regatta was revived under the auspices of a committee of rowing men, under the title of the Thames Regatta. This, however, only existed for nine years, and was then elbowed out of the field by a new regatta, instituted by the railway and steamboat companies, and called the International Regatta. The International did not succeed in obtaining a sufficient amount of public support, and is already numbered with the things that were. It may be hoped that it will not be long before a water. men's regatta over the Putney course again takes its place in the list of aquatic fixtures.

Charles Dickens (Jr.), Dickens's Dictionary of the Thames, 1881 

Thames Rowing Club (The) was founded in 1861 as a pleasure club only. Its headquarters were then at Simmons's. There were very few members at first, but the numbers rapidly increased, and in 1862, when club races were first started, the club numbered nearly 150. The first public performances of the Thames were a couple of four-oared matches with the Excelsior Rowing Club of Greenwich in 1864 and 1865. The club also put on a crew for the Metropolitan Junior Eights, started in 1865, which rowed second in the final to the London Rowing Club, the winners; and followed this up the next year by securing the Challenge Cup for Junior Eights at the first Metropolitan Regatta. In 1870 a four was sent to Henley, and carried off the Wyfold Cup, and from that time the club has gradually risen to be considered almost, if not quite, on an equality, as to rowing, with the London Rowing Club. In 1872 and 5873 the Thames Cup at Henley was taken, and in the latter year the Metropolitan Champion Eights were for the first time secured by a Thames crew. As a natural sequence the club put on in the following year (1874) for the Grand Challenge Cup at Henley, sending their second eight for the Thames Cup, which was secured. From thence the Thames Club has always sent up first and second eights to the great Regatta, and has succeeded in winning the Grand Challenge Cup in 1876 and 1878. In 1877 the Thames Boathouse Company (Limited) was formed for the purpose of providing a boat and club house for the club. Money was raised by means of shares, the club and the company being kept quite distinct. The result has been the construction, at a cost of more than £3,000, of the present Thames Boat-house, on a site about 300 yards above that of the London. The club at present numbers about 300 members. The subscription for new members is £2 2d. a year, with an entrance fee of £1 1s. A payment of £10 10s., or of £5 5s. after five years' full membership, entitles anyone to an honorary life membership. The election is by ballot in general meeting; one black ball in five excluding. Unlike the London Rowing Club the Thames Club keeps a stock of pleasure-boats, which any member can use for up-river trips by permission of the Captain. Colours, red, black, and white.

Charles Dickens (Jr.), Dickens's Dictionary of the Thames, 1881

University Boat Race.- Not many years ago the annual eight-oared race between the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge was an event which concerned only the crews, their friends, the members of the Universities, and that small portion of the general public which took pleasure in river sports. It was a quiet, friendly sort of gathering enough in those days. The comparatively few people who watched the practice of the crews all seemed to know each other. It was a wonderful week for parsons. Past University oarsmen, their jerseys exchanged for the decorous high waistcoat, the white choker taking the place of the rowing-man's muffler, were to be met all over Putney, and about Searle's yard and the London Boat-house. The towing-path was a sort of Rialto or High Change, on which old friends who had rowed in the same boat years ago, and had since gone down into the struggle and fight of the world by many different paths, met and renewed their youth as they talked over old times, and criticised their successors. There were but few rowing-clubs then; the river had not become the fashion; the professional touts and tipsters had not fastened on the boat-race; the graphic reporter as yet was not. There was betting, of course - wherever Englishmen are, there is betting of some sort - but it was of a modest kind, and was unaccompanied by publicity. The whole thing. had the ring of true sport about it. It seemed indeed to be the only event that kept alive that idea of sport for its own sake which was fast fading out, if it was not already extinct, in most other contests. Of course it was all too good to last. The popularising process which has gone on with everything else was not likely to spare the boat-race. First of all aquatics generally grew more in favour, and so a larger public was attracted to take an interest in the battle of the blues. Then the newspapers took the subject up, and the graphic reporter worked his will with the race and its surroundings, and the extraordinary multiplication of sporting newspapers and sporting articles in papers of all sorts, let loose any number of touts on to the towing-path. Finally the ominous announcement of "Boat-race, 5 to 4 on Oxford (taken in hundreds)," and the like began to appear in the price current of Tattersall's; and the whole character of the race was changed. What the blue fever is now, and has been for some years, every Londoner knows well. Perhaps it is because the boat-race is the first of the spring events - as it were, the first swallow which indicates at least the possibility of a summer - perhaps it is because of the very natural readiness that exists among the masses to take advantage of any excuse for a holiday; perhaps it is because of the sheep-like tendency of the British public of all classes to follow a leader of any kind anywhere, that the complaint assumes so epidemic a form with every recurring spring. It is certain, at all events, that for some time before the race there is taken in it - or affected to be taken, - which does just as well-an interest which has about it even something ludicrous. Every scrap of gossip about the men and their boats, their trials and their coaches, is greedily devoured. Year by year, to gratify the public taste in that direction, has the language of the industrious gentlemen who describe the practice become more and more candid, not to say personal. The faults and peculiarities of individual members of the crews are criticised in some quarters in terms which might be considered rude if applied to a favourite for the Derby, who presumably does not read the sporting papers, and which, when used in speaking of gentlemen who may perhaps have feelings to be hurt, seems to the unprejudiced mind even offensive. The gushing reporter not only attends the race itself, but disports himself on the towing-path after his peculiar and diverting fashion on practice days, and daily develops the strangest conglomeration of views on matters aquatic in the greatest possible number of words. All sorts of dodges, borrowed from some of the shabbiest tricks of the "horse watcher's" trade, are adopted by touts, amateur and professional, to get at the time of the crews  between certain points, or over the whole course. The race is betted upon as regularly as the Derby, as publicly, and as generally. Cabmen, butcher boys, and, omnibus drivers sport the colours of the Universities in all directions: the dark blue of Oxford and the light blue of Cambridge fill all the hosiers' shops, and are flaunted in all sorts of in describable company. Every publican who has a flag-staff hoists a flag to mark his preference and to show which way his crown or so has gone - unless, as is sometimes the case, he be a dispassionate person with no pecuniary interest involved, in which case he impartially displays the banners of both crews. Everybody talks about the race, and it generally happens that the more ignorant of the matter is the company the more heated is the discussion, and the more confide at and dogmatic the opinions expressed. That thousands and thousands of people go down to the river on the important day who do not know one end of a boat from the other, who have no prospect of seeing anything at all, and no particular care whether they do see anything or not, is not surprising. That other thousands go, knowing perfectly well that all they are likely to see is a mere glimpse of the two crews as they dash by, perhaps separated by some boats' lengths after the real struggle is all over, is equally natural. Thousands and thousands of people go to the Derby on exactly the same principles. That 'Arry has claimed the boat-race for his own is only to say that he is there as he is everywhere, and that circumstance is not perhaps to be laid to the charge of the boat race. But the fact is, and becomes more and more plain every year, that the boat-race is becoming vulgarised - not in the sense that it is patronised and in favour with what are called "common people," but in the sense that it has got to be the centre of most undesirable surroundings - and that its removal from metropolitan waters would not be lamented by real friends of the Universities, or lovers of genuine sport. It is not so bad as the Eton and Harrow cricket-match, which has been utterly  vulgarised by "society," genuine and sham, and for which there is no kind of excuse or reason. The a University crews cannot meet each other on their own waters, as cricketers can play upon each other's grounds. They must have a neutral course to row upon. It is probable, before very long, that it will occur to the authorities that there are other suitable pieces of water in England besides the Putney course, and that there is no reason whatever why, if the annual vexata quaestio of the rowing superiority of the rival Universities is all that is to be taken into account, the race should not be rowed elsewhere. The managers of the race or their friends have shown signs of some confusion of mind on this head on more than one occasion. Protests have gone forth that it is a private match with which the public have nothing to do. The crowding of spectators to see the practice - and as many people go nowadays to Putney on a Saturday afternoon if there be a good tide, as used to go to the race itself twenty years ago - has been complained of. The general exhibition of interest has been deprecated. It has been intimated that all this newspaper publicity is distasteful and undesirable. In some strange way the boat devoted to the service of the general body of the press on the day of the race is always either so slow a tub as to be of little use, or else meets with some mysterious accident which deprives its occupants of any but a very distant view of the proceedings, while their more fortunate brethren, who happen to have been educated at Oxford or Cambridge, are careering gaily after the racing boats on board one of the University steamers. The independent sporting papers say that accurate information has become more and more difficult to get, and newspaper reports - except in special quarters - are, following out the private-match theory, discouraged as much as possible. But it is all to no purpose. The boat-race can never shake off its surroundings so long as it continues to be rowed at Putney. Change of air will, in all probability, shortly be found necessary to restore it to a healthy condition - a condition in which it certainly is not now. 
    As matters stand at present the race is rowed annually, about the Saturday before Passion Week, between Putney and Mortlake, usually with the flood-tide, although occasionally the reverse course has been taken. The crews are generally at Putney for a fortnight or more for practice, a very much longer period of training on the tidal water being considered necessary now than was the case in the earlier years of the match. Four steamers only accompany the race: one for the umpire, one for either University, and one for the press; and although this arrangement is decidedly an advantage from the point of view of the public safety, the spectators about Hammersmith and Barnes lose a singular sight. The charge through the bridges of the twenty steamers or so which used to be chartered to accompany the race was something to see; but although it was magnificent it was not safe, and it was fortunate that the Conservancy regulations stopped it before some terrible accident occurred. That nothing very serious ever happened in that fleet of overcrowded swaying, bumping, jostling boats was an annual cause for wonder; and it became sometimes, when one was on board one of the fleet as it approached Hammersmith, matter for rather serious consideration to speculate at what particular moment the mass of spectators on the suspension-bridge would break it down and plunge with the ruins into the river. Fortunately the bridge stood long enough for the official mind to be exercised on the subject before anything happened, and it is now wisely closed during and for some time before the race. The best points of view are at Chiswick, on Barnes Terrace, or, best of all, perhaps, on Barnes Railway-Bridge, tickets for which are to be had at Waterloo Station. Otherwise, railway travelling between London and Mortlake cannot be recommended on boat-race days - for ladies at all events. 
    The Universities rowed their first match over a course of two miles and a quarter at Henley, and have met 35 times over the London course, as will be seen by the subjoined table, with the result that each University has won 17 races, while the race of 1877 was given by the judge as a dead heat. It is significant of the kind of influences that now prevail that this decision was productive of much discontent, and that the judge, who had officiated for a long period, was in the following year superseded. Of course all sorts of improvements have been made in the boats in which the competitors row, the introduction of outriggers in 1846 and the adoption of sliding-seats in 1873 being the most radical alterations ; but it is noticeable that from some cause or another the sliding-seats, which the modern rowing-man looks upon as an absolute necessity, do not seem to have increased the pace of the boats - if the time test goes for anything, that is to say. This is the more remarkable, as rowing men appear to be agreed that a crew rowing in fixed seats would have no chance against opponents of exactly equal merit on slides. It may be that the times taken before the days of chronographs were not exactly trustworthy. However it may be explained, the fact remains.
    It will be seen that success has often favoured one or other of the Universities for a series of years, only to go over to the other side for another series. The most important consecutive score is that of Oxford, from 1861 to 1869. This is what may be called the Morrison era, as the brothers Morrison were either in the boat or coaching during the whole, or the greater part, of that period, and finer crews than some of those which comprised such men as Darbishire, Willan, Tinné, the Morrisons, Hoare, Yarborough, Woodgate - to mention only a few names - have never been sent to Putney. Then Cambridge, who had persevered with the utmost pluck through most disheartening difficulties and defeat, learnt the proper lesson from Morrison, and the light blue once more came to the front under the auspices of Goldie. After this admirable stroke and sound judge, who did wonders for Cambridge rowing, came Rhodes, and plenty of good men have since been found to do battle at Putney for the honour of Cambridge. 
    Different times have been given by different authorities as the duration of the race in the last few years. In one case two of the most trustworthy are at issue as to a matter of half a minute, so there must evidently be some mistake somewhere. The times adopted in the preceding list are those given by the editor of the "Rowing Almanack," a thorough good judge of rowing, who has had many years experience of timing races, and, being invariably careful, is presumably accurate.
    In 1880 the race was rowed on Monday, the 22nd of March, after having been postponed from the previous Saturday on account of fog.

Charles Dickens (Jr.), Dickens's Dictionary of the Thames, 1881

Vesta Rowing Club, Headquarters, the "Horn" Tavern, Knightrider-street. Established in 1871. Election by ballot of members, one black ball in three to exclude. Entrance fee, 5s.; Subscription, £1 10s.; honorary members, 10s. 6d. Colours, crimson and black stripes oblique. Boat-house, Unity Boat-house , Putney.

Charles Dickens (Jr.), Dickens's Dictionary of the Thames, 1881

West London Rowing Club, founded in 1856, and consequently one of the oldest clubs on the river. Election by ballot of members, one black ball in five excludes. Entrance fee, £1 1s. Subscription £2 2s. for active, £1 1s. for non-active members. Members are permitted to take up life membership on certain conditions. Colours, scarlet and white stripes. Boat-house, Putney.

Charles Dickens (Jr.), Dickens's Dictionary of the Thames, 1881

Usual scenes in town to-night after Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race, in which Oxford won by two and a half lengths, the fastest time on record. Empire, Alhambra, Trocadero, and Tivoli music-halls jammed with rollicking semi-riotous mobs of students. The Strand at 9 p.m. was pandemonium.

R.D.Blumenfeld's Diary, April 9, 1892

Victorian London - Publications - History - The Queen's London : a Pictorial and Descriptive Record of the Streets, Buildings, Parks and Scenery of the Great Metropolis, 1896 - The Boat Race (1895), from Barnes Bridge

THE BOAT RACE (1895), FROM BARNES BRIDGE.

As a general rule, the result of the Oxford and Cambridge boat race is a foregone conclusion by the time that the rival eights have reached Barnes, which is always more thronged than any other place along the course. Our view is taken from the London and South-Western railway bridge, to which the public are admitted on payment, and it shows the Oxford crew with a comfortable lead. The racing boats are closely followed by the umpire's launch, whence proceeds the smoke obstructing the view of those on the Press boat and on the Varsity steamers. The building with the tower, to the right, was formerly the country house of the Lyric Club and the captive balloon owes its elevation to the enterprise of some advertiser.