Kohei Hisayama
Class 29 No. 21618528
English Seminar
July 10, 2017
The History of Thames River
The civilization has been
born and grown by the river from ancient times. For example, everyone must know
biggest four civilizations: Indus Valley, Egypt, Mesopotamia and Yellow River. People grew crops along the river and these became
bigger by the big river. In London England, River Thames is flowing in the town
and country. This river has the very old history with London. I think that the
history of Thames is it of London. I am going to write about the history of
River Thames.
First of all, I am going
to explain the information of River Thames. River Thames is flowing in the
south of England. The source of the river is Thames Head of the village Kemble,
it is flowing to the North Sea. The length of the river is about 346
kilometers, and it is the longest river in England. Second to River Severn, it
is the longest in All England. In London, the color of the river is dark black
because it is mixed with ocean water of the North Sea. There are many popular
sightseeing spots along Thames. For example, Big Ben, St. Paul, London Eye,
Tower Bridge and Millennium Bridge etc. In central of London, high buildings
and historic buildings are standing by the river, the River Thames cruising
tour is popular with tourists.
Second, I am going to explain
the interesting past of River Thames. From 16th century to 17th
century, the Thames was the main traffic river between London and West
Minister.The ferryman Guild was the only transportation of London people. Many ferries
came and went in the river. The popular poet John Tyler called “the Water Poet”
wrote about River Thames when he went on the trip from London to Oxford by the
boat. From the 17th century to 18th century, Thames often
frozen because of the little ice age. In 1607, the first frost fair was held on
frozen river, and people enjoyed the entertainment; ice skating or bowling. But
the average temperature of London got higher after that, and Thames never has
been frozen from 1814.
Next, I am going to write about the worst
history of Thames. Into 19th, London became to main spot of the trade,
and many ferries came to London. Therefore, Thames was the most traffic volume
in the world in that times. Because the river was so crowded that the accident occurred
in 1878. The sightseeing boat Princess Alice hit to the carrier boat Bayer
Castle, many people were killed in this accident. Further, Thames was very polluted
by the wastewater from factory or the sewage as the society became more urban. It
was said that anybody could not forget the Thames because of the worst smell. Especially
in that summer the smell was bad, and Thames was called “the Monster Soup” and “the
Great Stink”. And Cholera was spread in London,
it influenced people. But the government changed the water and sewage system,
now it become the pretty beautiful river. Although various creatures was once
died by the pollution, they is back to Thames in recent years. Tents were lined on the frozen
river, and various entertainments were offered to bowling and ice skating.
Finally, I am
going to write about the ford. In England there are many
fords by River Thames. For example, we know Oxford, Stafford, Hereford and
Stratford. The "Ford" means the shallow place in the river or lake.
People and ox crossed River Thames by walking on the ford when they had no
bridges. In the case of Oxford, it named
from the shallow place that ox can across the river on there. Because these
villages and towns are important for the life without bridges, so people gathered
to the ford and it became the big city. Now Oxford is one of the most popular city
as the university town in the world from these backgrounds. The "Ford" means the shallow
place in the river or lake. People crossed River Thames by walking on the ford
when they had no bridges.
In conclusion, I explained
about the history of River Thames. First I explained about the information,
second explained about the interesting history, third explained about the worst
history, finally explained about the ford. Thames has been watching England from the ancient
times. It has different histories, and it frozen or it was polluted. From these
histories, I think that the history of Thames is life of people, it is good and
bad memories for people in London. And Thames must be watching London in the future.
I hope to visit to Thames and look at the cityscape of London.
References
l “The River Thames”
l “Thames River Cruise London"
https://www.londonpass.com/london-attractions/thames-river-boat-cruise.html
l “the Thames guide”
http://www.riverthames.co.uk/
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