Thomas Doggett was an Irish actor and comedian who came to London about the year 1690. After playing many parts at Drury Lane, he became manager of that theatre and later of the Haymarket Theatre. He appears to have taken a considerable interest in the Watermen of the Thames who were much more numerous than they are today and were then the equivalent of the modern taxi drivers. [More] 
The Court of the Company of watermen and Lightermen of the River Thames acting through the Almshouses and Committee is the charitable trustee of The Royal Cottage Homes for Watermen, The Poors Benevolent Fund and The Philip Henman Foundation. [More]
Watermen ferry people and Lightermen move cargo around the River Thames. A lighter is a barge used the carry cargo.
It is possible to qualify as either a Waterman or a Lighterman, or take both qualifications at the same time. The Company runs an apprenticeship scheme for young people, and trains mature students who would like to work on the River.
Applicants have to be physically fit and not suffer from colour blindness between red, green and white. To tackle the college work a GCSE in Mathematics and English is desirable. Otherwise an interest in river life is essential.
Find out about Watermen & Lightermen in your Family History
The Company keeps records of the names of apprentices listed by the date they were apprenticed at the Court of Bindings. Similarly there is a record of Freemen recorded by the date they became free of the Company. The Company also has records of Court Members, Wardens and Masters (or Rulers as they were originally known.)
The Company of Watermen and Lightermen was established by Act of Parliament in 1555 to control the Watermen on the River Thames responsible for the movement of goods and passengers. Indeed it remains the only ancient City Guild to he formed and controlled by Act of Parliament. The present Hall dates back to 1780 and remains the only original Georgian Hall in the City of London. It was designed by William Blackburn and is a perfect example of eighteenth century domestic arehitecture.
Today the Watermen and Lightermen still work on the River Thames, the former being concerned with passenger transport and the latter with the carriage of goods. The young Freemen of the Company are eligible to participate in the Doggett's Coat and Badge Race, which has been held annually since 1715. This gruelling boat race is held each July and goes along the river from London Bridge to Chelsea. The winner has the honour of wearing the scarlet coat, breeches and silver arm badge that are based on the original costume of an eighteenth century Watermen.
The Hall was extended in 1983 to include a more substantial dining and meeting facility, the Freemen's Room, which blends in perfectly with the intimate atmosphere of the Court Room, the Silver Room and Parlour to form a suite of rooms that are both elegant and adaptable to modern day requirements.