John Norden, The View of London Bridge from east to west, [1597] - detail, a 'taxi' boat passes freight-carrying-boats at anchor

Description:River transport in Shakespeare's London.

In London the main means of crossing the river, apart from the only bridge, was by small rowing boat ferries, which acted as ‘taxi-boats’. These also plied between the city and the court at Westminster. Larger freight vessels were much used across or along the river, being an easier transport route to follow that the congested, narrow streets and lanes of the city.

Full title: John Norden, The View of London Bridge from east to west, [1597] (hand-coloured)