The River Thames
From Source to Sea
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Use the aerial photograph option on the map page.
Tilbury is located on the north bank of the River Thames at the point where the river suddenly narrows to about 732 metres (2,400 feet) metres in width. It has a deep water port, a fort and was the site of an important ferry to Gravesend on the south bank of the river. The name Tilbury is of Saxon origin, Tilla being the name of a chieftain and "burg" referring to an ancient fort.
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Pooh is looking back towards London. Across the river is the town of Gravesend. |
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The tide is out. Pooh knew this because he could see wet mud on the river bank. He could also see seaweed. |
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A ferry still operates between Tilbury and Gravesend |
Tilbury Docks (Port of Tilbury)
A port is a facility for receiving ships and transferring cargo to and from them.
When the Port of Tilbury first opened in the 1880s, it traded in all sorts of goods - including madeira brought in by the West Africa Line; casks of sausage skins packed in brine and India chutney. Materials such as bales of jute and packaged timber and wood pulp also passed through the docks.
The cranes are in Tilbury Docks.
The large cranes are used for the loading
and unloading of containers from container ships.
Tilbury Docks opened for business just as steam vessels began to take over the shipping trade.
Today the port handles a variety of cargo, containers and passenger liner traffic and remains, along with Southampton and Felixstowe, one of Britain's three major ports.
The Tilbury Docks is the largest container port for timber and paper products in the UK.
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Millennium Dome | |||
Summary - from source to sea |
Start of Voyage down the Thames | Contents Page | Introduction |
Facts about the Thames | Flooding | Thames Basin |
Pollution | Erosion | Tributaries |
Industries |
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