Did you know that the River Thames and wind were principal environmental factors in creating Cockneys?
Grow Social Capital’s Andy Green, co-founder of the Modern Cockney Festival – the leading festival of the culture, heritage, an identity of ‘non-posh Londoners’ – joined local historians and a mudlarker today to share stories about the River Thames as part of the London Rivers Week celebrations organised by Thames21, the environmental group working to protect the Thames River Basin.
Did you know that the phrase “Sling yer hook” originates from casual dockers in the Port of London. They used hand-held cargo hooks to pull the loads from ships onto their backs. When a ship arrived for unloading, dockers looking for work would wait dockside. The foreman would select the men he wanted and those who weren’t chosen were told to “sling yer ‘ook!” i.e., to put their hooks away and leave.
London Rivers Week celebrates its 10th anniversary, inspiring the public to celebrate all of London’s rivers and the many projects protecting them.
Andy was joined by historians Jane Parker and Richard Yeboah in exploring the rich heritage of London’s docklands and sharing their experiences.
The event is organised by the River Partnerships in London, the Environment Agency, Thames21, South East Rivers Trust, London Wildlife Trust, and the Thames Estuary Partnership, and sponsored by Tideway.
The theme for 2026 is “Know Your Local River” encouraging Londoners to identify, explore and connect with their nearest river. So if you don’t know your River Fleets from your River Leas, the campaign is for you.
Header image credit: ©SylvieBelbouab
