Watermen & Wherrymen

[historylover]

Could you advise the difference between Watermen and Wherrymen on the River Tyne?  Also, generally speaking, would they have had their own boat or worked for an employer?  Where were boats stored? (On the river Tyne would be an obvious answer, but it would have been rather crowded with so much trade going on, I would have thought.)

Thankyou in anticipation.

[Tickettyboo]

Could you advise the difference between Watermen and Wherrymen on the River Tyne?

http://www.rootschat.com/links/01hpp/

Boo

[Phodgetts]

wherry

noun

a light rowing boat used chiefly for carrying passengers.

BRITISH

a large light barge.

P

[stanmapstone]

I understand that a Tyne Watermen's Association was listed in Trade Directories until the 1930s. But I don't now if it was an employees' union or an employers' association.

Stan

[stanmapstone]

Wherrymen on the Tyne were involved in bunkering ships with coal.
Shields Daily Gazette - Saturday 09 February 1895
The Tyne Wherrymen
The settlement of the wherrymen's dispute has been received with a great deal of satisfaction on Tyneside. There was no resumption of work yesterday, except in the case of one boat, but it is expected that on Monday the union men will man the boats of the companies as before the dispute commenced.


Stan

[stanmapstone]

I understand that a Tyne Watermen's Association was listed in Trade Directories until the 1930s. But I don't now if it was an employees' union or an employers' association.

Stan

The Tyne Watermen's Association was a trade union (one of the oldest), and it amalgamated with the GMWU  on 1 January 1936. The Association originated among Newcastle's Keelmen

Stan

[Tickettyboo]

found this, which may be of interest
http://freespace.virgin.net/l.carter/wherry.htm

Boo

[historylover]

Many thanks to all who replied.  I am considerably enlightened.