The Thames

Although just a stream compared with other important rivers, the Thames has played a vital role in the history of Britain. London, one of the world’s great cities, was founded on its banks, built by the Romans two thousand years ago. Earlier invaders had already settled in the valley of the Thames, building villages along its banks and farming its fertile soil. For centuries the river was a vital trading route for the people of southern Britain and London grew to be one of the world’s largest ports, with ships sailing from the Pool of London to countries all over the world. Now the ships dock at Tilbury in the Thames estuary, where the river is wide enough to take today’s huge vessels. In this book the author looks at the long history of the river and discusses its role in the life of Britain and the world today.