Up and down the Thames you'll find disused and often dilapidated stairs leading down to the rivers shore at low tide. Known as Waterman's Stairs they once played a vital role in 14th century Londons transport network and were in use right up until the 1930's. Stairs were used at high tide and causeways at low tide. Like Londons modern day black cab drivers and "The Knowledge" Watermen had to memorise the locations of these stairs and causeways as part of an apprenticeship. Stairs were recognised by customs as safe places to pick up and put down passengers at various points along the Thames. Often built next to pubs they were an invaluable aid in rescuing people who'd had one to many and then fallen in to the river. They are slowly vanishing from the Thames as many simply rot and crumble away or are lost to London's constant regeneration.
Scene mockup courtesy of Emske.com
