Alderman Stairs

Alderman Stairs are a historic set of stone steps descending from the street directly into the river. These were known as watermen's stairs, serving as a vital threshold where passengers once paid boatmen to ferry them across the Thames or out to larger ships anchored in the river. If you look closely at the weathered stone, you will notice small, deliberate X shaped grooves carved into the surface. These markings were created long ago to provide traction for pedestrians wearing heavy, hobnailed boots, helping them avoid a slippery tumble into the river mud.