Thames Timetable from Victorian times

[Chris Partridge]

A contributor to one of my favourite blogs, Hear the Boat Sing, has posted scans of a Victorian publication giving approximate times to row between various points on the Thames (the original post is here: https://heartheboatsing.com/2020/05/09/when-shall-we-see-the-thames-again/)
The times are from the experience of the unknown compiler, based on trips in a double skiff with two passengers and luggage. 10min is allowed for passing through locks, which seems a bit short. Lock keepers are much keener on filling the lock these days I think.

[John P]

Found that table a bit tricky to get the hang of, didn't they do an app for that?
But once I saw the squares with the abrieviated place names I worked out that Abingdon to Wallingford is supposed to take 3hr40mins, somehow it took us all day.  

I think their times work out at around 3.8 knots (downstream and allowing their 10mins per lock).   I think we would struggle to keep that pace up with Josephine's green rowing boat, although I expect Chris could do it.  But their double skiff is probably longer than our single one, albeit probably much heavier.   Also their 10 minutes per lock doesn't allow for some of the locks selling ice creams.

[Chris Partridge]

The average double skiff is about 24ft long so the hull speed will be higher, but the writer specifies it is loaded with two passengers and camping gear. There is no indication of the age or fitness of the rowers but I suspect they were beefy and highly competitive Victorian sportsmen fuelled by breakfasts of devilled kidneys and Bass’s Beer.
What interests me is the very substantial difference between the downstream and upstream times. The Thames may look as if it ‘runs softly’ but actually the current is significant.