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of work, well presented with sharp black-and-white pictures on glossy paper, which brings to light many previously-unpublished photographs.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
Instructions for an adventure
The Pacific Crossing Guide, 4th Edition by Francis HawkingsThe Pacific Crossing Guide was created to be the complete reference book for anyone thinking about sailing the Pacific, whether going east-west or west-east.
Fun family fable
Sea, Sand and Katrina by Sam GrantFormer seafarer Sam Grant – whose seafaring adventure books set in the 1960s have been reviewed in the Telegraph before – returns with a different kind of nautical novel.
Top tips for crafty constructors
Sailing Ships from Plastic Kits, by Kerry JangModel ship supremo Kerry Jang is back in time for Christmas 2024 with another comprehensive work on building miniature maritime masterpieces.
Warm words for a cool invention
Blowing Hot and Cold, by Ian JohnstonRemembering his own father's connection with the company, author Ian Johnston set out to write a history of Thermotank, a near-forgotten pioneer in marine air conditioning. It was no small challenge, but Johnston succeeds in bringing a lost British icon back to life.