1-230-950 - Reproduced by permission of Historic England/Heritage Images

The River Thames at Stepney, London with a shipping signal in the foreground, c1945-c1965. Two men admire the view of the Thames below a signal to shipping. A sight-seeing boat goes up the river towards St Paul's Cathedral and the Monument in the distance. On the right is a paddle steamer. The River Thames was at one time the busiest commercial river in the world. Collisions between vessels were not uncommon and so control of traffic on the river became essential.