Picturing a port city's recent past
Shipping on the Thames and the Port of London During the 1940s-1980s, by Malcolm Batten and Reg Batten
In the sec
ond of our three books celebrating London as a port city, author Malcolm Batten brings readers a treasure trove of ship pictures taken by his father Reg Batten.
The introduction to Shipping on the Thames explains that Reg Batten came from a seafaring family but was not encouraged to follow in the footsteps of his father and grandfather. Instead, he ended up in the printing and photographic trades, yet could never entirely stay away from the maritime world.
The combination of Batten senior's photographic skill and passion for shipping has resulted in a fine collection of images taken over 40 years, now gathered in a book in the popular 'shipspotting' genre we often feature on these pages.
If you sailed on the Thames between the 1940s and 1980s, there's a good chance you'll see some vessels here which you remember as old friends (or indeed as difficult old rustbuckets). The pictures are grouped into Docks Views, Cargo Shipping, Service Vessels, Passenger Shipping, Courtesy Visits, Sail Training Ships and Heritage Shipping – which includes some of the beloved historic Thames barges.
In a postscript on 'Rundown and Renaissance', Batten junior brings the story told by his father's photographs up to date, looking at the decline of the old Port of London in the city centre and the establishment of new container facilities downriver at the likes of London Gateway.
Overall, this is a valuable piece of work, well presented with sharp black-and-white pictures on glossy paper, which brings to light many previously-unpublished photographs. Recommended.
Shipping on the Thames and the Port of London During the 1940s-1980s
By Malcolm Batten and Reg Batten
Pen & Sword, £30
ISBN: 978 13990 18401
Books landing page image: London Thames 1943/Wikimedia Commons
Buy this book in the Nautilus Bookshop
While you're there, why not browse the rest of the titles in our unique maritime bookshop, which sells all the books reviewed on these pages.
Buy nowMore Books
Sort out your sextant skills
Reeds Astro Navigation Tables 2025, by Kendall CarterNew year, new astro navigation tables! The latest edition of this popular work gives a calendar showing where useful heavenly bodies will be each day in 2025, as well as guidance to help you practise navigating with your sextant using the sun and stars.
Well-researched history of mass maritime travel
Ocean Liners, by Anthony BurtonThe new title Ocean Liners has a great deal more to it than most books about liners and cruise ships, with plenty of technical content to appeal to an audience of maritime professionals.
Weathering your STCW studies
Meteorology for Seafarers sixth edition, by RM Frampton and PA UttridgeIf you’re looking to understand the practical side of meteorology, this book co-written by a former general secretary of the Marine Society will do the trick.
Thrilling mission to protect the Convoys
Operation Title, by Glyn L EvansDrawing on official records and personal accounts, author Glyn Evans brings the sinking of the Tirpitz to life by focusing on the experiences of one participant, able seaman Robert Paul Evans, making this a more intimate view of a well-known event.