Thames Cottage
Audio guide to this location
Audio Transcript
You are standing beside Thames Cottage, one of Walton’s oldest surviving riverside buildings.
Dating from the 17th century, the cottage originally served as the home of the local ferryman. Before bridges crossed the Thames, ferries provided an essential link between communities on either side of the river, carrying passengers, goods and livestock across the water.
Behind the cottage once stood stables, supporting the ferryman’s work and the busy river trade that passed through Walton.
The building became Grade II listed in 1973, helping to preserve its historic character and its connection to Walton’s riverside past.
Take a look at the plaque mounted on the wall. This is known as a fire mark and belonged to the Sun Fire Office, one of Britain’s earliest insurance companies, founded in 1710.
Before public fire brigades existed, insurance companies often operated their own fire crews. Buildings displaying the company’s fire mark showed that the property was insured, helping firefighters identify which buildings they were responsible for protecting.
Today, Thames Cottage provides a rare glimpse of the time when ferries, river trade and early insurance companies all played an important part in everyday life along the Thames.
This marks the end of the River Route. We hope you have enjoyed discovering Walton’s riverside history, from Roman crossings and military hospitals to film studios, music, art and the people who lived and worked beside the river.
From here, the cafés, pubs and restaurants of Walton town centre and the riverside are just a short walk away, offering the perfect place to relax and reflect on the stories you’ve discovered along the trail.
Did you know?
- Thames Cottage dates from the 17th century and was once the local ferryman’s cottage.
- Before bridges crossed the Thames, ferries provided the main route between Walton and the opposite bank.
- The building became Grade II listed in 1973.
The Sun Fire Office was founded in 1710, making it one of Britain’s oldest insurance companies. - Before public fire brigades existed, insurance companies operated their own fire crews.
- Fire marks showed that a property was insured and helped identify which company would attend a fire.
Some insurance companies would still extinguish fires at uninsured properties — but only for a fee. - Sun Fire eventually became Sun Alliance, which later merged with Royal Insurance to form Royal & Sun Alliance.
