The Ferry Boat Inn

Across the River Lea, a vital crossing point for centuries, sits The Ferry Boat Inn. The Ferry Boat Inn wasn’t always an inn. It began as a humble ferry house. This ferry house served travelers crossing the river at Tottenham in Mill Lane, a route that required two bridges even back in the 13th century. The Ferry Boat Inn itself officially appeared on the scene in 1738. The old ferry house was transformed into the inn we know today. It became a central point in the community. A nearby main bridge, constructed of timber and iron, became known as Ferry Bridge. It was also called Hillyer’s Turnpike. Sacheverell Hillyer, the ferryman and landlord of The Ferry Boat Inn, gave his name to it. The parishioners, clever as they were, insisted on their right to ford the river without paying the toll. The inn also holds a colourful history. Sir William Maynard rebuilt the main bridge in 1760 as a private toll bridge for horses and carriages. The bridge underwent several renovations throughout history. Viscount Maynard repaired it in 1820. Then iron trestles replaced the timber ones in 1854. The East London Waterworks Co. purchased the inn and the bridge tolls in 1868. Finally, in 1877, the Corporation of London bought the rights, freeing the bridge from tolls. In 1915, the old bridge was demolished. The current Ferry Lane bridge was built a little downstream. The Ferry Boat Inn has witnessed dramatic events, tales of horse-snatching and treachery, alongside the everyday comings and goings of the ferry boat.