Doggett's coat

Waterman's red wool single breasted skirted coat with silver badge. The coat has a stand-up collar with two cone shaped silver buttons, the front of the coat fastens with 12 cone shaped silver buttons. The sleeve caps are embroidered with red silk in a cross and dot pattern using satin stitch. The sleeves terminate in a mariner's cuff with a three-point slash with five silver cone buttons. There is a line of embroidery running parallel the length of the slash done in split stitch and terminating in a trefoil motif with a cross at the centre of each loop. The skirts have a cartridge pleat at the top.

The silver Doggett's badge is on he left sleeve. The Doggett's coat and badge were the prizes in a race, founded by Thomas Doggett, an Irish actor and comedian, in 1715 to commemorate the accession of the George I to the throne. Doggett organized the race until his death in 1721, he stipulated in his will that it be continued on, each 1 of August, in perpetuity. The course is from London Bridge to Chelsea, and originally the competition was to be between six watermen in the first year of their Freedom. However, the race is now held in July, and in 1971 the qualification for participants was extended by the Watermen's Company. This badge and coat were won in 1886 by Henry Cole.