St Katharine Docks took their name from the former hospital of St Katharine's by the Tower, built in the 12th century, which stood on the site. An intensely built-up 23 acre (9.5 hectares) site was earmarked for redevelopment by an Act of Parliament in 1825, with construction commencing in May 1827. Some 1250 houses were demolished, together with the medieval hospital of St. Katharine. Around 11,300 inhabitants, mostly port workers crammed into unsanitary slums, lost their homes; only the property owners received compensation. The scheme was designed by engineer Thomas Telford and was his only major project in London. To create as much quayside as possible, the docks were designed in the form of two linked basins (East and West), both accessed via an entrance lock from the Thames. Steam engines designed by James Watt and Matthew Boulton kept the water level in the basins about four feet above that of the tidal river. By 1830, the docks had cost over £2 million to build.
Telford aimed to minimise the amount of quayside activity and specified that the docks' warehouses (designed by the architect Philip Hardwick) be built right on the quayside so that goods could be unloaded directly into them.
The docks were officially opened on 25 October 1828. Although well used, they were not a great commercial success and were unable to accommodate large ships. They were amalgamated in 1864 with the neighbouring London Docks. In 1909, the Port of London Authority took over the management of almost all of the Thames docks, including the St Katharine.
The St Katharine Docks were badly damaged by German bombing during the Second World War. All the warehouses around the eastern basin were destroyed, and the site they had occupied remained derelict until the 1990s
Because of their very restricted capacity and inability to cope with large modern ships, the St Katharine Docks were among the first to be closed in 1968, and were sold to the Greater London Council. The site was leased to the developers Taylor Woodrow and most of the original warehouses around the western basin were demolished and replaced by modern commercial buildings in the early 1970s, beginning with the bulky Tower Hotel (designed by Renton Howard Wood Partnership; opened in September 1973) on a site parallel to the river just to the east of Tower Bridge. This was followed by the World Trade Centre Building and Commodity Quay (both designed by architects Watkins Gray International). Development around the eastern basin was completed in the 1990s. The docks themselves becoming a marina. The development has often been cited as a model example of successful urban redevelopment.
There was at one point a plan to open a St Katharine Docks tube station on the proposed Fleet line. It would have been between Fenchurch Street and Wapping. An eastwards extension was eventually built as part of the Jubilee line but took a different route south of the Thames. The closest stations to the Docks today are Tower Hill (tube) and Tower Gateway DLR station, both roughly equidistant from the north-west corner of the Docks.
Between 2005 and 2008 the former Danish lightship "Lightship X" was moored on the west dock, and used as a restaurant, before returning to Denmark.
The marina, including restaurants and offices, was owned by Max Property Group, operated by investor Nick Leslau, since 2011, and was sold to Blackstone Group in 2014. Over the next three years, Blackstone completed a major restoration. In May 2017, the company retained agents to find potential buyers for the complex; the listing price was £435m. In October 2017, however, Blackstone withdrew the property from the market because bids were below the asking price.
The area now features offices, public and private housing, a large hotel, shops and restaurants, a pub (The Dickens Inn, a former brewery dating back to the 18th century), a yachting marina and other recreational facilities. It remains a popular leisure destination.
The east dock is now dominated by the City Quay residential development, comprising more than 200 privately owned flats overlooking the marina. The south side of the east dock is surrounded by the South Quay Estate which was originally social housing. The dock is still used by small to medium-sized boats on a daily basis.
The anchor from the wreck of the Dutch East Indiaman Amsterdam is on display at the entrance to the east dock
1972. St. Katharine's Dock
From Tower Bridge looking towards Tower hotel and entrance to St.Katharine's dock being passed by one of the new riverboats .
2002. St.Katharine's dock
Tower hotel and St.Katharine's dock entrance with the new quay for river commuters in the foreground.
2018.Tower Hotel, St. Katharine's Dock
In the foreground one of the new regular Thames Cruisers running every 40 minutes up and down the river. New luxury apartment developments have appeared downriver from the dock and hotel.
1972. St.Katharine's dock
After getting access to the roof of the Tower Hotel I took this image showing the layout of St.Katharine’s docks and in the distance to the East the remains of the old London Dock
2002. St.Katharine's dock
Unfortunately I couldn't get access to the roof of the Tower hotel on this visit but the new developments are plainly visible to the east where London Dock stood.
2018. St.Katharine's Dock
From the top of the Tower Hotel the view to the East with Ivory House in the foreground and St.Katharine’s marina. The newest tower blocks are visible in Canary Wharf and the cranes working on the new Wapping village to the left.
1971. St.Katharine's Dock
The view downriver from the Tower Hotel in 1971 with work about to start on the new housing by the dockside.
2018. Canary Wharf from St.Katharine's Dock.
The view downriver from the the Tower Hotel in St.Katharine’s Dock in 2018 with still more towers appearing in West India Dock, Canary Wharf.
1972. St.Katharine's dock
View from ruins of the Telford warehouses and side of trade centre looking towards Ivory House St.Katharine’s Dock centrepiece.
2002. St.Katharine's dock
View of Ivory House in St.Katharine's dock from restored Telford warehouses showing the new cruiser berths.
2018. St.Katharine's Dock
in 2018 the new cafes and restaurants beneath Tower Bridge House are setting up for the breakfast trade.
1971. St.Katharine's dock
Sailing barges alongside the shell of the Telford warehouses with the World Trade Centre at the end.
2002. St. Katharine's Dock
In 2002 Old barges are moored alongside International House as the restored Telford warehouses are known and at the end the World Trade Centre.
2018. St.Katharine's Dock
Old sailing barges restored and next to the Telford warehouses brought back to life as offices with Tower Bridge House and its row of cafes, pubs and eateries at the end replacing the old World Trade Centre. Commodity Quay, to the right, is another prestige office development based on the pre-existing warehouse.
1971. St.Katharine's dock
The original Thomas Telford warehouses unoccupied and abandoned and the new trade centre heralding the start of the regeneration in this dock.
2002. St.Katharine's dock
Restored Telford warehouses which have become offices, and the newly built city exchange to the right behind the pub tables and newly berthed yatchs.
2020. St Katharine's Dock
From Zizzi’s pizza restaurant, the view across the St.Katharine’s Dock Marina basin to Telford’s warehouses and the the new Tower Bridge House offices and restaurants beneath.
1971. Ivory House at St.Katharine's Dock
Ivory House which used to store valuable cargoes from the east has become luxury flats, restaurants,shops and and entertainment venue. The original mechanical Telford bridge is still in use to cross the channel.
2018. Ivory House - St.Katharine's Dock
In 2018 the original mechanical Telford bridge stands on the dock alongside the new electric bridge from Dicken’s Inn to Ivory House whose luxury apartments are now occupied by celebrities and business folk from around the world.
2018. St.Katharine's Dock lunch market
In the plaza of Dickens Inn the weekly “Kerbs” lunch market with 18 stalls.
1972. St.Katharine's dock
This vew from St.Katharine's dock basin to Tower Bridge in the west shows the original old wooden brewery with work commencing to restore and convert it into a pub.
2002. St.Katharine's dock
The old warehouse is now a fully functioning pub and the yacht haven has been developed and is now very busy and almost fully occupied.
2018. St.Katharine's dock
Looking west the Dickens Inn and the Tower Hotel, the Shard now appears above the hotel.
1972. St.Katharine's dock
St Katharine's yacht haven packed with many small boats and about to see the construction of blocks of residential apartments.
2002. St.Katharine's dock
The apartments have been finshed and occupied St Katharine's yacht haven is home to boat owners and city workers.
2018. St. Katharine's Dock
The yacht haven continues to expand with smart apartments around the dock, the central large block of Quadrant House has a grand Waitrose beneath.
1972. St.Katharine's dock
St.Katharines dock basin looking west to Tower Bridge showing the old Dickens Inn reconstruction.
2002. St.Katharine's dock
St.Katharine's basin with restored pub and new developments and the updated yacht haven.
2018. St.Katharine's dock
St.Katharine's yacht haven with Dickens pub and the Shard now appearing above Tower Bridge.
1972. St.Katharine's dock
Looking N.E.over St.Katharine's basin with Ivory House and the World Trade centre to the left.
2018. St.Katharine's dock
St. Katharine's yacht haven with new apartments surrounding it and the restored warehouse Commodity Quay, now offices, to the left next to Ivory House.
1971. St.Katharine's dock
Building site looking west toward the Tower Hotel and St. Katharine dock warehouses.
2018. St.Katharine's dock
From blocks of flats the current view towards St. Katharine warehouses ( now offices and apartments ).
Map of St.Katharine Docks 1972/2018
A map of the docks showing no change from 1972 till 2018.
The building of the London Docks at Wapping transformed a small riverside village into one of the busiest docks in London.
By the late 18th Century London had become one of the busiest ports in the world, with the bustling maritime industry limited to quays and wharves along the River Thames. Records show that it could take up to a month for a ship to unload its cargo. The threat of theft from ships saw the loss of vast sums of goods. In fact, thieving was so bad that the first police force – Thames Police – was created in 1798 to combat the problem. A revolution was needed to improve how shipping and trading was undertaken and new enclosed docks were the answer.
The idea of secure enclosed docks was proposed in
the 1790s, and the first specific plans were for West India Docks on the Isle of Dogs, and London Docks at Wapping. Plans were drawn up for the London Dock Company, established by a group of merchants, shippers and bankers in January 1796.
The London Dock Company negotiated a 21 year monopoly to manage all vessels carrying rice, tobacco, wine and brandy (except those from the East and West Indies), and the docks continued to thrive.
BUILDING LONDON DOCKS
The development and construction of the London Docks was an enormous undertaking, one which historian Dan Cruickshank
described as ‘a stupendous achievement of civil engineering’. The London Dock officially opened on 30 January 1805, with The London Packet sailing in from Portugal. The docks were linked to the River Thames by three connecting locked basins: Hermitage, to the south west; Wapping, directly south; and Shadwell – the only basin to have been retained – to the east.
When completed, the entire site encompassed 90 acres, including 35 acres of water, 50 acres of warehouse space, 2.5 miles of quays and jetties and 7 acres of wine vaults. It has been estimated that the London Dock was able to accommodate up to as many as 500 ships and store over 200,000 tons of goods.
The London Docks dealt with a vast array of goods, and along with brandy, wine and rice, there was everything from fruit, spices and sugar to coffee, cocoa and nuts. Two of the largest products held at the London Docks were wool and tobacco. Up to 25,000 bales of wool were sold every week and the ‘Great Wool Floor’ was renowned for its weekly sales. However, the trade in tobacco was so large that an entirely separate warehouse covering five acres was required.
TOBACCO DOCK
Tobacco Dock was designed by Daniel Alexander and built by John Rennie, and today is Grade I listed, with distinctive iron columns which allowed for greater floor space and a large parallel glazed roof. The warehouse was later used to store furs and skins, until the 1990s when it was converted into a shopping centre. Today, it is used for conferences and events.
By the 1930s, improvements in shipping, as well as road systems and storage, meant that the once thriving London Docks were needed less and less.
Sailing ships were replaced by larger steam ships and far fewer vessels could fit in the old dock or navigate the narrow locks. In 1969, after the rise in use of container ships, the London Docks closed.
1972. London Docks
The neo-Georgian Impounding station at Hermitage Basin was the first of a standard design: identical clones could be seen throughout the sprawling domains of the Port of London Authority. The first one built is also the last survivor.
The basin was the back-door to London Docks. Across the entrance stood the world’s first cast iron swing bridge. This too was reproduced throughout the docks, but they are all now lost. The red brick pump station and the fag-end of the basin wall are all that’s left.
2002. London Docks
Hermitage basin redeveloped but still the old custom house stands as a sculptor's studio but the old dock walls have almost vanished. A private housing development stands at the edge of what is now an ornamental lake.
2018. London Docks
The customs house in Hermitage Basin was bought by Wendy Taylor C.B.E. a renowned sculptor whose works also appear nearby, the sundial at the Tower Hotel in St. Katharine’s dock and also in the adjacent memorial park. The housing alongside the dock is now a gated community.
1972. London Docks
West view of London main dock with a large number of the old warehouses still standing and one end of Tower Bridge and the Tower hotel visible in the distance.
1982. London Docks
London main docks being filled ready for redevelopment after all the original warehouses had been demolished, to the right the News International development, where the infamous Wapping disputes took place, is being constructed.
2002. London Docks
The new developments on the site of the old London main dock and to the right the News International print works.
1972. London Docks
View from bridge at Tobacco Dock looking West over London Dock.
2018. London Docks
The bridge which used to allow merchant vessels access from Wapping to Middle London Dock past Tobacco Dock is now blocked off and unused. The north side is very overgrown and the ornamental canal underneath leads to what used to be London Main Dock and is now homes and parking.
1971. London Docks
These Western dock warehouses and cellars were home to the imported spirits that were a large proportion of the high value cargoes delivered into London Dock until it was closed in 1969.
1980. London Docks
Demolition of Old Warehouses
London Dock warehouses disappeared.
1982. All the original London Dock warehouses are now gone and serious preparations are being made for new housing and ornamental canals to replace these old docks.
2018. London Docks
The new housing has taken onboard the character of the old stock, this is now Spirit Quay.
1971. London Docks
Another entrance to the London Dock was through Wapping basin which by 1971 was completely filled and ready for redevelopment.
The Western warehouses are visible with Tower Bridge in the distance.
2018. London Docks
Housing developments in place of docks and an entrance to the old Wapping basin preserved. Tower Bridge skulking behind a tree.
1971. London Docks
Looking east across London main dock , where some of the larger warehouses have already gone, to those that still decay alongside the water.
2002. London Docks
An eastward view showing the retention of the old dock wall from London main dock and the many dwellings alongside what is now only a channel.
1971. London Docks
South Quay warehouses looking east.
2018. London Docks
The new blocks of flats standing on South Quay with the old dockside wall still standing
1972. London Docks
Wapping basin branched out from London's main dock to provide a good sized entrance from the Thames but by the time I arrived had been filled in ready for conversion. The old entrance with houses either side is barley visible over the top of the digger shovel.
2002. London Docks
In the heart of old Wapping, some of the dereliction of the seventies has been swept under a neat, green astroturf carpet. The open space next to the baroque tower of the church of St.John was once crowded with houses. German bombs made the space available for lunchtime footie and netball.
2018. London Docks
The sports facilities next to the astroturf have expanded and are now John Orwell sports facility though the the old Wapping dock walls still stand at the far end where ships once entered but only surround the car park. The spice factory outside the walls has been turned into residential housing part of the area’s gentrification.
1972. London Dock
The last standing tobacco warehouse in Wapping dock now finding a new plant growing, marijuana! Possible the product of seeds from afar!!
2002. London Dock
A perfect site for a sports club in Wapping.
2018. London Docks
Now the old Wapping warehouse has become the John Orwell Sports centre in conjunction with Tower Hamlets Council.
1972. London Docks
Tower Bridge in the distance from the perspective of the old main dock north warehouse adjacent to Pennington st.
2002. London Docks
Great expanses of water were in-filled when the docks finally fell into disuse. The back wall of Fortress Wapping , News International’s newspaper offices and print works - was once the northern quayside of the vast Western dock. Now the location of the old quay is a matter of archaeology.
2002. London Docks
From Tobacco docks bridge towards the newly built News International print works and offices, the new residential quarter that was London Dock to the left.
2018. London Docks
The development site where Pennington St. warehouses and the News International print works stood is becoming Wapping Village, more luxury housing and a new square.
1971. London Docks
The main Pennington Street warehouses nos. 4 & 5 listed buildings looking eastward. Shortly afterwards they were destroyed by fire that had to have been set by a professional according to a local fire officer. They were replaced by the News International print works and offices.
1971. London Docks
Pennington St. warehouses.
1971. London Docks
Pennington St. warehouses 3, 4 & 5 with at the far end Tobacco Dock warehouses.
1971. London Docks
Inside Pennington St. warehouses showing the wonderful timber beams, for a short period these were artists studios but they were left decaying until Murdoch’s News International group used them for paper storage and offices.
Pennington Street 2019
Unit 5 redesigned , redeveloped and occupied by JTP Design Group.
1972. London Docks
Tobacco docks warehouses which housed the old skinfloors.
2002. London Docks
The six lantern roofs of Tobacco Docks sit like immoveable heads on a broad pair of Docker’s shoulders . The space is vast , and also deeper than it looks from street level: below the skin floor are brick vaults built on stone pillars. Barrel upon barrel of of wine once lay here awaiting clearance from Her Majesty’s custom and excise.
2018. London Docks
Tobacco Dock now an events venue with exhibition ships rusting in their berths. News International's buildings have now been demolished and St.George are creating a large development of luxury apartments, Wapping Village, including a new square.
1971. Inside Tobacco Dock , where imported skins were laid to dry.
London Docks. 2002
Before it closed , the new Tobacco Warehouse was used for storing furs - hence its 20th century name , the Skin Floor. The old name, or a version of it, was restored along with the site in the 1980s. The original rows of tree-like stanchions still support the elegant roof of Tobacco Dock - but the deserted factory shops make it look even more forlorn than when it was an empty shell.
1983. London Docks
1983. Works on the News International site proceeding apace beyond the old Tobacco dock temporarily dried up and disused.
1983. London Docks
View from bridge at Tobacco Dock looking north west towards what was Pennington Street warehouses but now a redevelopment and the new site of News International.
2018. London Docks
View to north east from tobacco dock bridge which is now overgrown on the north side and barricaded . The site of News International has been demolished and St. George have started work on a new development and square.
2018. Tobacco Dock
View from Tobacco Dock, now an entertainment venue, to the old News International printing works site now demolished and redevelopment is moving on by St. George.
2003. Tobacco Dock & London Dock
Looking West from the eastern dock ( now in-filled and called Wapping Wood ), it would be easy to miss the clues that this was London Dock. Tower Bridge , once obscured by the floating pier in the Western dock , is now almost lost in the jumble of new roofs. Ivory House in St.Katharine’s, and the distant peaks of the bloody Tower have disappeared completely behind the Steel and glass of News International . Only the dark silhouette of the Tower Hotel gives the game away.
2018. Tobacco Dock & London Dock
looking over Tobacco Dock to the site of the old London Dock with the Wapping print works now demolished and awaiting construction of a new residential development next to Pennington St. by St.George who are creating new upmarket apartments and houses and a new square.
View over London Docks and St.George development 2020
View over London Docks and St.George development 2020 from the roof of Tobacco Docks car park. The first of several new blocks of Luxury apartments is being built next to Gauging Square.
1972. London Dock Wall
The original high dock walls formed a perfect backdrop for local art well before Banksy came along.
2002. London Dock Wall
Part of the housing development in London Dock, some of the wall remains and the bow of the old tugboat can still be seen.
1972. London Dock Wall
Tench st. Wapping , the old dock walls providing security alongside London's warehouses with the painted tug boat sailing by.
2002. London Dock Wall
Tench st. still providing a backdrop for grafiti and some of the old dock walls still standing.
1972. London Dock
Shadwell basin at the eastern end of London Docks providing another river entrance.
2002. London Dock
Shadwell Basin with St.Paul's church, traditionally known as the sea captain's church, on the other side. It is the largest tract of water still remaining from the old London Docks.
2018. London Dock - Shadwell Basin
Today Shadwell Basin is one the most significant bodies of water surviving from the historical London Docks.
Unlike some of the London Docks which have been landfilled, Shadwell Basin, the most easterly part of the complex, has been retained. It is now used for recreational purposes (including sailing, canoeing and fishing) and is surrounded on three sides by a waterside housing development designed by British architects MacCormac, Jamieson, Prichard and Wright.
The residential buildings are four and five storeys with façades of alternating open arches and enclosed structure, echoing the scale of traditional 19th century dockside warehouses, with a colonnade at quayside.
Shadwell Basin is a popular public route for cyclists, joggers and pedestrians with a walkway alongside the water as part of the linked open spaces and canals between the river and Hermitage Basin near St.Katharine’s Dock to the west.
Map of London Docks 1972
as seen in this map the main docks were still in existence with an entrance still available through Hermitage Basin.
Map of London Docks 2018
The main docks except Shadwell Basin have all been filled and all that remains is an ornamental canal and Hermitage Basin.
Robert Milligan (c. 1746-1809) was largely responsible for the construction of the West India Docks. Milligan was a wealthy West Indies merchant and shipowner, who returned to London having previously managed his family's sugar plantations. Outraged at losses due to theft and delay at London's riverside wharves, Milligan headed a group of powerful businessmen, including the chairman of the London Society of West India Planters and Merchants, George Hibbert, who promoted the creation of a wet dock circled by a high wall. The group planned and built West India Docks, lobbying Parliament to allow the creation of a West India Dock Company. Milligan served as both Deputy Chairman and Chairman of the West India Dock Company. The Docks were authorised by the West India Dock Act 1799 the first parliamentary Act for dock building.
The Docks were constructed in two phases. The two northern docks were constructed between 1800 and 1802 (officially opened on 27 August 1802) for the West India Dock Company to a design by leading civil engineer William Jessop(John Rennie was a consultant, and Thomas Morris, Liverpool's third dock engineer, was also involved; Ralph Walker was appointed resident engineer), and were the first commercial wet docks in London. British Prime Minister William Pitt the Younger and Lord Chancellor Lord Loughborough were assisted in the foundation stone ceremony on 12 July 1800 by Milligan and Hibbert. The docks were formally opened on 27 August 1802 when the unladen Henry Addington was hauled in by ropes. Echo, a ship laden with cargo from the West Indies, followed. For the following 21 years all vessels in the West India trade using the Port of London were compelled to use the West India docks by a clause in the Act of Parliament that had enabled their construction.
The southern dock, the South West India Dock, later known as South Dock, was constructed in the 1860s, replacing the unprofitable City Canal, built in 1805. The City of London Corporation acquired the Company in 1829. In 1909 the Port of London Authority (PLA) took over the West India Docks, along with the other enclosed docks from St Katharines to Tilbury.
The original docks consisted of an Import Dock of 30 acres (120,000 m2) of water, later named North Dock, and an Export Dock of 24 acres (97,000 m2), later named Middle Dock. Between them, the docks had a combined capability to berth over 600 vessels. Locks and basins at either end of the Docks connected them to the river Thames. These were known as Blackwall Basin and Limehouse Basin, not to be confused with the Regent's Canal Dock also known as Limehouse Basin. To avoid congestion, ships entered from the (eastern) Blackwall end; lighters entered from the Limehouse end to the west. A dry dock for ship repairs was constructed connecting to Blackwall Basin. Subsequently, the North London Railway's Poplar Dock was also connected to Blackwall Basin.
The Docks' design allowed a ship arriving from the West Indies to unload in the northern dock, sail round to the southern dock and load up with export cargo in a fraction of the time it had previously taken in the heavily congested and dangerous upper reaches of the Thames.
Around the Import Dock a continuous line of five-storey warehouses was constructed, designed by architect George Gwilt and his son, also named George. The Export Dock needed fewer buildings as cargo was loaded upon arrival. To protect against theft, the whole complex was surrounded by a brick wall 20 ft (6.1 m) high.
The three docks were initially separate, with the two northern docks interconnected only via the basin at each end, and South Dock connected via a series of three basins at the eastern end. Railway access was very difficult. Under PLA control, cuts were made to connect the three docks into a single system, and the connections to the Thames at the western end were filled, along with the Limehouse basin and with it the western connection between the two northern docks. This allowed improved road and rail access from the north and west. South Dock was also connected to the north end of Millwall Dock, its enlarged eastern lock becoming the only entrance from the Thames to the whole West India and Millwall system.
From 1960 to 1980, trade in the docks declined to almost nothing. There were two main reasons. First, the development of the shipping container made this type of relatively small dock inefficient, and the dock-owners were slow to embrace change. Second, the manufacturing exports which had maintained the trade through the docks dwindled and moved away from the local area. In 1980 the docks were closed and the Government took control of the land.
After the closure of the upstream enclosed docks, the area was regenerated as part of the Docklands scheme, and is now home to the developments of Canary Wharf. The early phase one buildings of Canary Wharf were built out over the water, reducing the width of the north dock and middle dock, and the Jubilee line station was later constructed within the middle dock. Since 2009, the Canary Wharf Crossrail station and the Crossrail Place development above it have been under construction within the north dock. Further parts of the western end of the south and middle docks are also being built over in new developments currently under construction.
However, the docks remain open to ships and structural aspects (such as the dock walls) are now effectively protected from future major change by national and London Government policy. South Dock in particular regularly plays host to medium-sized military vessels visiting London as it is the furthest point upstream that they can be turned around.
In 2005 planning permission was granted for a floating hotel in the shape of a modern yacht to be berthed in the South Dock, however this was never constructed
1971. West India Docks
West India North Dock ( north side ) looking northeast
2002. West India Docks
West India North Dock ( north side ) looking northeast with the original dock gate moved as an entrance to the new offices. The Dockland light railway crossing is visible and the old warehouses converted to apartments and preparation well under way for the Docklands museum.
2018. West India Docks
Northside warehouses West India Dock with a new skyscraper the Marriot Hotel, and the new Crossrail Place with Restaurants , bars a roof garden and the new station.. "The Spire" London's tallest residential apartment building has its foundations behind the hoardings rear of the restored entrance gate.
1971. West India dock
West India North Dock warehouses looking West, to the left the warehouses closest to the unloading quay and still operational.
2002. West India Docks
West India North Dock warehouses very well and sympathetically restored looking West. The offices of Canary wharf are on the left and the old warehouses have become apartments, shops, the Docklands museum and a cafe. Behind the red scaffolding boards the new Marriott hotel and restaurants are to be constructed. Old barges and tugs have become exhibition and entertainment areas.
2018. West India Docks
North Dock Warehouses now cafes, restaurants and shops and the London Docklands Museum, the new Marriot hotel is in the foreground on the right.
2018. Crossrail Place
In the centre of the old north dock, looking east a new construction site to the left and Canary Wharf offices are to the right. Billingsgate Fish market is beyond the construction site.
1971. West India docks
This is where Canary Wharf Development is to be , in 1971 still in full operation though losing out to the container docks at Tilbury.
2002. Canary Wharf
About to be joined by the twin towers of HSBC and Citibank with further developments on the site continuing. The view is looking west from the old site of the bulk wine warehouses.
2018.West India Docks,Canary Wharf
There are so many new towers surrounding One Canada Square that an image from the roundabout would not show them all, to get them all in I have taken this image from the east side of Blackwall basin. There are more towers still being built.
1971. West India main dock
Still in full swing , West India main Dock, looking east towards the main dock entrance from the Thames.
2003. West India main dock
Office developments to the left and offices built on stilt platforms are to the right. In the east is the carapace entrance to Canary Wharf underground and above is the DLR line crossing the dock.
2018 Middle Dock, West India Docks
Building works almost completed on the new Newfoundland Project, 60 storey tower at the western end of middle dock
1972. Millwall Dock Entrance
The freighter Antares entering Millwall Docks from West India main dock , the rum warehouses are to the right and just beyond the swing bridge opened to allow access.
2002. Entrance to Millwall Docks
From West India looking south to the new blocks of apartments and hotels being built with the barges now carrying construction materials and removing waste.
West India / Milwall Docks 2018
The only view left of the entrance to Milwall Dock as more apartment and office blocks have been constructed or are being built. The entrance to the dock now has South Quay DLR station above it meaning it is now closed to any large vessels.
1971. Millwall Dock
The original Black Watch cruise ship, part of the Fred Olsen line, in Millwall Dock used for carrying passengers to the Canaries in the winter months (in summer crossings between Newcastle and Bergen) and on the right a freighter bringing in timber.
2004. Millwall dock
"London Arena" music venue with a floating Chinese restaurant moored alongside to provide sustenance to the concert goers in Millwall Dock.
2018. Millwall Dock
East side of the dock with the imposing Arena tower of apartments and the floating Chinese restaurant still docked nearby.
1971. Millwall Dock
Olsen line ships in Millwall Dock
2003. Millwall Dock
New office developments and housing still being erected. In the distance are the new West Ferry printing works.
2018. Millwall Dock
The west side of the dock now developed with many new apartment blocks and more still under construction.
1971. Millwall dock & timber warehouses
Millwall dock with a Russian cargo ship unloading & timber warehouses
2004. Millwall Dock north side
This is now home to Docklands Sailing and Water sports Centre and a large site on the north side of Outer Dock is occupied by the WestFerry PrintWorks, the largest newspaper print works in Western Europe.
2018. Millwall Docks
Westferry Printworks “a vibrant new neighbourhood” has started construction and the largest printworks in Europe have now gone elsewhere.
1971. Millwall dock
The south side and the Montague L. Meyer timber warehouses and at the end the flour mill.
2003. Millwall Dock
Southside housing development, Quayview apartments.
2018 Millwall Dock
Quayview developments have not really changed in the last 15 years.
1972. West India dock entrance
Barges in the lock that forms the main entrance to Millwall and West India Docks.
2001. West India docks main entrance
Canary Wharf tower to right before the HSBC and Citibank towers appeared , and to the left many office and residential developments including hotels.
2018. West India Docks entrance
Main entrance from the Thames to West India docks with the new Dollar Bay apartments to the South and many new towers to the West.
West India Entrance looking west 2019
As work continues on Wood Wharf behind the cranes more high rise apartment blocks have appeared to the south.
1972. West India rum warehouse
The current site of Canary wharf .
2003. Canada Place
West India warehouse site now Canada Place shopping in basement of Canary wharf
1972. Blackwall Basin
Looking West across the basin with Junction dock to the left and West India Docks beyond.
2004. Blackwall Basin
Looking West to Canary Wharf with the new bank towers completed and many of the new apartment blocks in Blackwall basin occupied.
2018. Blackwall basin
The basin is now home to barges and old tugs as well as apartment blocks and beyond the view of Canary Wharf is being obstructed more new buildings alongside the bank towers. The largest residential development at Canary Wharf is under way adjoining the basin.
Blackwall Basin 2018
The towers are now concealing the original canary Wharf building and to the left the latest and largest canary Wharf residential development is appearing as the nature of the original docks are being changed in the new century.
1971. Blackwall basin
The disused basin looking south towards the dry dock.
2002. Blackwall basin
Looking south with the new housing development in place of the old dry dock and cranes on the skyline as the redevelopment proceeds apace.
2018. Blackwall basin
Now home to a residential barge community , looking towards the new loft style developments being built where Junction Dock has been filled to accommodate Canary Wharf’s largest new residential development “Wood Wharf”, to the south east Dollar Bay apartments and centrally the round building afar that is Arena Tower in Millwall Dock.
2019 Blackwall Basin looking South
The Wood Wharf development is speeding up with one tower almost complete and, to the left , Loft apartments being constructed. A walkway from the apartments on the north of Blackwall Basin has been started and will lead to the new development across the water.
2018. Panoramic view of Blackwall basin
Panoramic view of Blackwall basin from East to West looking South.
2019 Blackwall Basin panorama
More towers and developments for Wood Wharf are appearing and progress appears to be speeding up as barges for workers are now in the basin.
1972. Poplar Dock
Poplar Dock which was the old rail yard depot for the docks.
2002. Poplar dock
Redevelopment of Poplar Dock almost complete with houseboats and pleasure cruisers replacing the old trading ships.
2018. Poplar Dock
Poplar Dock Marina apartments fully occuppied.
1972. Blackwall basin dry dock
Looking South through the dry dock with the opened gates to West India dock to the right.
2002. Blackwall dry dock developed
The old Blackwall basin dry dock looking south towards West India dock entrance and another riverside block of apartments.
2018. Blackwall basin dry dock no-more
Looking south from the old Blackwall Dry Dock to where new apartments are occupied to the latest Canary Wharf residential development and the West India dock main entrance.
1972. Blackwall basin dry
Blackwall basin dry dock looking north
2002. The old Blackwall basin dry dock
The old Blackwall basin dry dock looking North to Poplar Dock.
2018. Blackwall dry dock
What was Blackwall Basin dry dock with the latest development of loft style apartments under construction to the West in front of the new Barclays building
1972. Junction Dock
Looking north to Blackwall basin from the timber warehouses in Junction Dock.
2002. Junction Dock
Junction Dock now filled in and new housing developments in Blackwall Basin with the bridge to Canary wharf roundabout to the left and beneath it new Billingsgate market.
Junction Dock no more. 2018
A view across the water of the docks main entrance to the huge development site that was Junction Dock, this is becoming the largest Canary Wharf residential area of lofts and luxury apartments covering 128 acres known as Wood Wharf and including Sky Lofts. The apartments in Blackwall Basin can be seen at the other end of the new enterprise.
Junction Dock ( as was ) from main Dock 2019
Junction Dock has been filled to create Wood Wharf on the north side of the main dock entrance where the Scout Club boats are moored, beside Dollar Bay tower. The first new residential block, in the previous image this stands on the right handside, is almost complete and to the right the loft style flats are under way, on the left almost blocking the view of Barclays pinnacle are more new apartments.
2020. Junction Dock view to Blackwall Basin.
2020. Junction Dock view to Blackwall Basin.Some of the latest Towers are nearly complete and work continues on Wood Wharf.
1972.Blackwall Basin
Channel between Poplar dock and Blackwall Basin looking south with remains of the old rotating bridge in the foreground.
2002. Blackwall basin redeveloped
Channel between Poplar dock and Blackwall Basin looking south to the old dry dock and West India main entrance, the old bridge parts remain.
2018. Blackwall basin channel.
Channel from Poplar Marina to Blackwall Basin
1971. Poplar Dock
Looking North up the channel between docks to Poplar Dock with the old rotating railway bridge useless but remaining.
2002. Poplar dock.
Looking North up the channel between docks to Poplar Dock now home to residential barges and canal boats. The central axis point remains from the old railway bridge.
2018. Poplar Dock
The channel to Poplar Dock Marina residential community and new skyscrapers at the periphery.
2003. Poplar Dock basin
Poplar dock looking north now populated by canal boats and miscellaneous leisure craft, including old barges.
2018. Poplar Dock basin
Poplar Dock, there are no real changes except the skyline beyond and an increased number of residential barges.
2019 Poplar basin marina
The barges have changed and more residential towers are changing the skyline.
Map of West India and Millwall Docks 1972
Before serious developments had started there were three entrances from the Thames and all the docks from the end of the last century still remained.
Map of West India and Millwall Docks 2018
Middle dock is now almost filled and its area is taken up by Canary Wharf and developments by the company.There is only one entrance still open to the East and the last Dry Dock is about to disappear next to where Junction Dock has been drained to make way for the new foundations of “Wood Wharf” a large residential and parkland zone by the Canary Wharf Group.
The sparsely populated Rotherhithe peninsula was originally wet marshland alongside the river. It was unsuitable for farming, but its riverside location just downstream from the City of London made it an ideal site for docks. The area had long been associated with maritime activities: in July 1620 the Pilgrim Fathers' ship the Mayflower sailed from Rotherhithe for Southampton, to begin loading food and supplies for the voyage to New England, and a major Royal Navy dockyard was located just down the river at Deptford. In 1696, Howland Great Wet Dock (named after the family who owned the land) was dug out to form the largest dock of its time, able to accommodate 120 sailing ships.
By the mid-18th century the dock had become a base for Arctic whalers and was renamed Greenland Dock. However, by the 19th century an influx of commercial traffic from Scandinavia and the Baltic (principally timber) and Canada (foodstuffs for London's population) led to Greenland Dock being greatly expanded and other docks being dug to accommodate the increasing number of vessels. Eventually, 85% of the peninsula, an area of 460 acres (1.9 km²), was covered by a system of nine docks, six timber ponds and a canal. Several of the docks were named after the origins of their customers' cargos, hence Canada Dock, Quebec Pond, Norway Dock and Russia Dock. The Grand Surrey Canal was opened in 1807 to link the docks with inland destinations, but proved a commercial failure and only 3½ miles of it were ever built.
The docks evolved a distinctive working culture, quite different from that of the Isle of Dogs across the river. A characteristic sight of the docks were the "deal porters", dockers who specialised in carrying huge baulks of deal (timber) across their shoulders and wore special headgear to protect their heads from the rough wood.
The decline of the docks set in after World War II, when they suffered massive damage from German air raids. The South Dock was pumped dry and used for construction of some of the concrete caissons which made up the Mulberry Harboursused on D-Day. When the shipping industry adopted the container system of cargo transportation, the docks were unable to accommodate the much larger vessels needed by containerisation. They finally closed for lack of custom in 1969. The Grand Surrey Canal was closed in 1971 and was subsequently drained and filled in. The area remained derelict for over a decade, with much of the warehousing demolished and over 90% of the docks filled in. The only surviving areas of open water were Greenland Dock, South Dock, remnants of Canada Dock (renamed Canada Water), and a basin renamed Surrey Water. In 1981, the Conservative government of Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher established the London Docklands Development Corporation to redevelop the former dockyard areas east of the City of London, including the Surrey Docks.
During the 1980s and early 1990s, the Surrey Docks were extensively redeveloped, and renamed Surrey Quays. Over 5,500 new homes were built, ranging from individual detached housing to large apartment complexes. South Dock was converted into a marina - now the largest in London - and a watersports centre was constructed on Greenland Dock. Canada Water and the infilled Russia Dock became wildlife reserves, with a woodland planted on the latter site. Most of Norway Dock was re-excavated to form a water feature surrounded by residential development, and another ornamental feature, the Albion Channel, was created along the eastern side of the former Albion Dock, linking Canada and Surrey Waters. Leisure facilities and a number of light industrial plants were also built, notably a new printing works for Associated Newspapers, the publisher of the London Evening Standard and the Daily Mail.
In October 1988, the Surrey Quays shopping centre was opened as the centrepiece of the redevelopment (and rebranding) of the area. The nearby London Underground station was renamed as Surrey Quays a few months later.
1971. Surrey Docks
Entrance to Surrey Docks looking east. The office building on the right after being the docks offices was used by Goldsmiths Art College.
2002. Surrey Docks Entrance
Surrey Quays road entrance looking towards Canada Water tube station with the old dock offices still standing.
2018. Surrey Docks
The old entrance to the docks has become a public transport thoroughfare leading to Canada Water Tube and shopping centre.
1971. looking west towards Surrey docks entrance showing Columbia and Regina points, 21 storey blocks of flats built by The Greater London Council 1962-64.
2003. Canada Water, Surrey Docks
View towards Surrey Quays road entrance with new Canada Water tube station now in front of Columbia and Regina points.
2018.Canada Waters, Surrey Docks.
Deal Porters market square , Olympia towers, Surrey Waters library with the old blocks behind Canada Waters Underground and bus terminal.
!972. Regina point, Surrey Docks
Albion Yard with Regina point flats behind.
2003. Regina Point, Surrey Docks
Albion yard no more, a bus station and Canada Water tube station in front of Regina Point.
2018. Regina Point, Surrey Docks
Regina Tower now seen from Deal Porters market with Olympia Tower to the right and the new Surrey Waters Library to the left, and skate boarders in the centre.
1971. Albion Dock
Looking north towards the Thames from the channel between Canada water and Albion Dock.
2003. Albion Dock
The old dock has become a canal leading to smart new housing developments.
2018. Albion Dock, Surrey Docks.
Albion channel, on the right another block of apartments on its way.
1970. Albion Dry Dock
The small original dry dock for Surrey Docks with a view across Albion Dock.
2003. Albion Dry Dock
The dry dock is now filled, a channel has been created where the dock was and further new apartment blocks have been constructed.
2018. Albion Dry Dock, Surrey Docks.
View from the remains of the Albion Dry dock with my back to the hoardings of another new development in this now very populous residential area.
1970. Canada Dock
Albion to Canada dock looking south east, the old timber warehouses to the left.
2003. Canada Water
Albion canal to Canada Water shopping centre with new megastores to the left. The pedestrian bridge links the Canada Water tube and bus station to the new sports stores.
2018. Canada Waters
Surrey Docks ( Canada Water ) shopping centre beyond seen from Albion channel where another new apartment complex is under way. The decorative channel needs some attention as weeds are proliferating.
1970. Albion Yard
Looking north to the Thames and Albion Dock
2003.Albion Yard
a major housing development alongside the newly created canal which was Albion Dock..
1970. Canada dock
Looking south east from the road entrance across Canada Dock to the timber warehouses.
2003. Canada Water
A large part of Canada Dock filled for parking spaces accessing the new shopping centre.
1970. Canada dock
N.E. view of the disused dock with weeds growing and warehouses deserted.
2003. Canada Dock
Canada Water , as it is now known, with new superstores and shopping centre.
2018. Canada water, Surrey Docks.
The old dock is now home to swans and ducks, the shopping centre and sports stores nearby become busier as more residential quarters are built.
1970. Greenland Dock Entrance
Lock gates at the dock entrance looking across to West India Docks
still in operation.
2004. Greenland dock entrance
Construction of the Citibank building in Canary wharf visible in the distance and new apartment blocks each side of the old entrance.
2018. Greenland dock entrance
No longer viable as a shipping route, new apartment and office buildings constructed on the Isle of Dogs and more to to follow.
1970. Surrey Docks
Greenland dock entrance bridge looking down the Thames to the future site of the barrier.
2003. Greenland dock entrance
Looking East to the Isle of Dogs from the pedestrian bridge.
2018. Greenland Dock entrance
Many new residential and office blocks visible on the Isle of Dogs across the Thames.
1971 Greenland docks
Pedestrian bridge across the entrance to Greenland Dock
2003 Greenland dock entrance bridge
Restored, repainted and functioning as a pedestrian walkway but no longer functioning as a swing bridge.
1971 Greenland dock
View from the pedestrian bridge to the inner lock gates of Greenland Dock.
2003. Greenland Dock
Alive again and filled by pleasure boats and now a new residential quarter with many blocks of flats constructed and occupied.
2018. Greenland Dock
residential barges and cruisers now mainly to the east in South Dock where access is available to the Thames.
1971. South Dock
Abandoned warehouses in Surrey’s South Dock.
2018. South Dock Marina
Now fully developed and occupied by pleasure craft and residential barges with a fully functioning access route to the Thames.
1971. South Dock
The entrance from the Thames sealed and warehouses derelict.
2018. South Dock Marina
Occupied and fully developed seen from the access way to the Thames. The crane on the left is for lifting boats out for maintenance.
Map of Surrey Docks 1972
All the main docks were still in existence but none were in use except Greenland Dock and South Dock.
Map of Surrey Docks 2018
Apart from Greenland Dock and South Dock all the other docks have been filled. Canada Water, which was Canada Dock, remains as a decorative lake with swans and ducks giving a pleasant aspect to the new theatre, shopping centre and blocks of rental apartments.
The area is named after three docks – the Royal Albert Dock, the Royal Victoria Dock and the King George V Dock. They are more correctly called the Royal Group of Docks to distinguish them from the Royal Dockyards, Royal being due to their naming after royal personages rather than Crown ownership. The three docks collectively formed the largest enclosed docks in the world, with a water area of nearly 250 acres (1.0 km2) and an overall estate of 1,100 acres (4.5 km2). This is equivalent to the whole of central London from Hyde Park to Tower Bridge.
The three docks were completed between 1855 and 1921 on riverside marshes in East Ham and West Ham (now the London Borough of Newham). The Victoria and Albert docks were constructed by the London & St Katharine Docks Company, to provide berths for large vessels that could not be accommodated further upriver. They were a great commercial success, becoming London's principal docks during the first half of the 20th century. They specialised particularly in the import and unloading of foodstuffs, with rows of giant granaries and refrigerated warehouses being sited alongside the quays. The docks' great size and provision of numerous finger quays gave them a collective span of over 12 miles (19.3 km) of quaysides, serving hundreds of cargo and passenger ships at a time. Following the opening of the Royal Albert Dock in 1880, giving the Royals access to Gallions Reach, 11 miles (17.7 km) below London Bridge, the rival East & West India Docks Company responded with the construction of Tilbury Docks even further down river. The ruinous competition led eventually to all the enclosed docks being taken over by the Port of London Authority (PLA) in 1909. The PLA completed the King George V Dock in 1921 and reserved land to the north for a fourth dock, never built.
The Victoria dock in 1973
The General Strike of 1926 hit the Royal Docks hard, with 750,000 frozen carcasses threatened by the docks' electrical supply being cut off. Fortunately for the dock owners, the Royal Navy were able to save the day by connecting the generators of two submarines to power the warehouses' freezers.
Although the Royal Docks suffered severe damage from German bombing in World War II, they recovered after the war but suffered a steady decline from the 1960s onwards, following the adoption of containerization. Nonetheless, they survived longer than any of the other upstream docks, finally closing to commercial traffic only in 1981. The docks' closure led to high levels of unemployment and social deprivation in the surrounding communities of North Woolwich and Silvertown.
Because of their relative remoteness from central London and poor transport links, the redevelopment of London's Docklands has proceeded more slowly in the Royals than in the other former docks. The London Docklands Development Corporationundertook much work during the 1980s and 1990s to improve local transport and promote new residential and commercial developments in the area. Thousands of new homes were built at Beckton, just north of the Royal Docks.
An extension of the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) opened in 1994 to provide direct links to the City of London and Canary Wharf. This was later extended round the south side of the docks with the link to London City Airport opening in December 2006. The line was later extended to Woolwich. Crossrail will serve the area from 2018.
Several other major projects have been proposed or implemented since then. Many residential complexes have been built; most notably the architecturally progressive Eastern Quay on the south side of Royal Victoria Dock, Capital East on the north side of the dock and the large complex of Gallion's Reach in the extreme east of the Royal Docks. A series of major developments have seen the construction of a new university campus (for the University of East London) and the ExCeL Exhibition Centre, among much else. The Royal Docks have also seen the development of London City Airport (code LCY), opened in 1988 on the quay between the Royal Albert Dock and the King George V dock. While the docks themselves have been preserved largely intact, little remains of the old infrastructure, although some historic warehouses and cranes have been preserved.
In 2011 the one hundred and twenty five hectares of the Royal Docks were granted Enterprise Zone status to help attract jobs and businesses to the area.
In 2014, Singapore listed Oxley Holdings together with leading developer Ballymore UK have a Joint-Venture to set up a new waterfront township of Royal Wharf, with 3,385 new homes housing over 10,000. This will be a mixed-use development comprising shops, restaurants and even office complexes. The final phase is known as Mariner's Quarter which has the tallest building standing at 19 storeys, overseeing the river Thames and Canary Wharf.
There is now a multi-disciplinary team working on the Royal Docks development and regeneration. (https://www.royaldocks.london)
1972 . Royal Victoria dock cranes
The old warehouses to the left and the entrance to Pontoon dock and the flour mills on the right. The docks were still operating, just!
2003. Victoria dock cranes
Now replaced by decorative non-functional cranes with the new Excel exhibition centre completed and hotels being constructed with the new residential "Britannia Village" to the right with access across the dock using the new Royal Victoria footbridge linking to Excel and the London Dock Railway station.
2018.Royal Victoria Dock
New residential developments left and right, and at the end the Sunborn floating hotel in front of Excel exhibition centre and the pedestrian Royal Victoria Bridge. The old flour mills remain to be developed by the Silvertown Partnership whose planning application in 2019 has been approved.
1971. Royal Victoria Dock
Now ending its operational life for commercial shipping with a few barges and some warehouses still in use.
2000. Royal Victoria Dock
Excel exhibition centre construction well under way and the new Victoria dock footbridge now open. Sailing boats replacing the cargo ships and barges .
Royal Victoria Dock 2018
2018 Royal Victoria Dock with many new hotels including Crowne Plaza, the floating Sunborn Hotel and the Good Hotel, on the left the Emirates Cable car station. Excel exhibition centre is beyond Sunborn and the Royal Victoria footbridge is also visible.
1972. Royal Victoria dock basin
Looking West to old entrance and the Thames, the meat warehouses to the right with barges still present. Beyond the Greenwich Peninsula awaiting its new occupant, The Dome.
2001. Royal Victoria dock
The old entrance is now closed. Looking west to the Dome, the new HSBC and Citibank towers alongside Canary Wharf to the right and to the left the nearly completed "Western Beach " apartments.
Royal Victoria Dock basin 2018
The floating “ Good Hotel London” which was towed all the way from Amsterdam with to the right the twin towers of “Hoola” a residential development by Strawberry Star. Over the top of the hotel and just visible the O2 Dome.
1972. Royal Victoria Dock warehouses
Looking East the functional warehouses about to disappear with the old tobacco warehouses beyond.
2002. Royal Victoria Dock car park.
Warehouses have become an Excel car park and a site for new hotels.
2018. Royal Victoria Docks
New apartment blocks and hotels now replace the old warehouses. The sign shows where the old car park still stands hidden behind the new developments and Excel is visible at the end of the road.
1972. Royal Victoria Dock warehouses
A view West to the old meat sheds.
2002. Royal Victoria Dock warehouses
Looking West with "W" warehouse retained as a store for the London Dockland museum but the remainder already demolished to make way for the future.
2018. Royal Victoria Dock warehouse “W”
W” now to become apartments with a new memorial statue in the foreground by Les Johnson funded by charity to remember the Royal Docks communities since 1855. Beyond are the newly finished residential blocks and hotels, with the floating Sunborn Hotel to the left.
2002.Royal Victoria Dock
From the recent Victoria Dock bridge a view north west of w warehouse and the cranes with land prepared and ready for developments to follow.
2018. Royal Victoria Dock, Sunborn Hotel
The luxury floating hotel and spa alongside the Excel centre, with further down the Austin David holiday lets and the Emirates Airline. W warehouse, one of the last original buildings has been converted to luxury apartments.
1972. Royal Victoria Dock warehouses
On the quay looking west with on the other side the old flour mills.
2002. Royal Victoria Dock
Looking West from Excel the Royal Victoria footbridge, Canary Wharf towers and the Britannia development can be seen on the south side of the dock.
2018. Royal Victoria Dock looking East
Excel Exhibition Centre is on the right with the luxurious floating Sunborn Hotel beyond, Royal Victoria pedestrian bridge spanning the dock with completed residential apartments on the other side.
1971. Royal Albert Dock
Presently still at work but time is running out for the old dock.
2003. Royal Albert dock
The airport is to the right and construction work on the University almost finished to the left. The docklands light railway can be seen on its return journey to the city from Gallions Reach and Beckton.
2018. Royal Albert Dock
New developments alongside Albert dock include London Borough of Newham Office Block, further extensions to the University of East London and new hotels and offices to be constructed.The London City airport continues to increase flights and improve facilities.
1971. King George V dock
Viewed from the east entrance, still at work.
2003. King George V dock
A plane landing at London City Airport which opened in 1987. The dock itself is now used for many water sports although commercial yachts arrive for the annual boat show now taking place at Excel.
2018 King George V dock, Docklands Airport
The airport continues to expand, whilst I stood there there was almost a plane very 10 minutes landing or taking off. To the south of the dock another large new development has started and on the other side of Albert Dock to the north the expanded University of East London is flourishing and new hotels and offices are appearing.
1972. Pontoon Dock
Home of Spillers and CWS mills for flour storage with an entrance to Royal Victoria Dock. This site is awaiting redevelopment by the Silvertown Partnership whose planning application in 2019 has been approved for phase one of construction.
2003 . Pontoon Dock
Mostly demolished ready for a development plan that failed. Another plan has now been approved by the Silvertown Partnership with the old graving dock, a listed building, being retained.
2002. Pontoon Dock, Grain Silo "D"
The grain silo is now a listed structure. It was restored in 1995 and could be a feature of the “Silvertown” development of Pontoon Dock.
1971. Gallions Hotel
Empty and abandoned.
2018 Gallyons hostelry
The old establishment has been refurbished and now flourishes in the centre of residential apartments and marinas.
2003. Galleons Hotel
Apparently to disappear for good as new developments are beginning for a shopping centre, housing and the University.
2018 Galleons Reach, Royal Docks
the pub has now been restored and is surrounded by new residential blocks and a further new developmet still under construction.
Map of the Royal Docks 1972
There were four entrances from the river and multiple mega sized dry docks still working when I paid my first visit to these docks, being downriver a few miles they were the last to be developed apart from the new London City Airport which would soon find a home here.
Map of the Royal Docks 2018
Only one entrance to the river remains navigable from King George V dock and all the dry docks have gone.The Emirates airline links the docks to Greenwich and pedestrians can now stroll across the Royal Victoria footbridge to the busy ExCel exhibition centre. The airport now serves 4.5 million passengers per year with almost 40,000 flights per annum.
The Port of Tilbury is located on the River Thames at Tilbury in Essex, England. It is the principal port for London, as well as being the main United Kingdom port for handling the importation of paper. There are extensive facilities for containers, grain, and other bulk cargoes. There are also facilities for the importation of cars. It forms part of the wider Port of London.
Tilbury lies on the north shore of the River Thames, 25 miles (40 km) downstream of London Bridge, at a point where the river makes a loop southwards, and where its width narrows to 800 yards (730 m). The loop is part of the Thames lower reaches: within the meander was a huge area of marshland. Gravesend on the opposite shore had long been a port of entry for shipping, all of which had used the river itself for loading and unloading of cargo and passengers. There was also a naval dockyard at Northfleet. The new deepwater docks were an extension of all that maritime activity.
The original docks of London, all built close to the City, were opened in stages by what was to become the East and West India Docks Company (E&WIDC) at the beginning of the 19th century. With the coming of the railways and increasing ship size, location close to the centre of London became less important than access to deep water, unrestricted sites and reduction in time spent travelling up the winding Thames. The Company had long been in competition with their rival, the London and St Katherine Dock Company (L&StKDC), and had been doing all it could to dominate it. The opening of the Royal Albert Dock by the L&StKDC, with its deepwater quayage, in 1880 had given access to the Thames at Gallions Reach, 11 miles (18 km) by river below London Bridge and downstream of the then principal London docks. The E&WIDC were forced to retaliate.
In 1882, an Act of Parliament allowed the latter to construct the docks at Tilbury; work began a fortnight later, and the first vessel to enter the docks was on 17 April 1886. This was the Glenfruin carrying the official party for the opening ceremony. The opening of the dock took place at the beginning of the steamship era, and its location soon proved to be the correct one.
The original docks consisted of a tidal basin on Gravesend Reach opposite Northfleet, connected by a lock to a main dock with three side branches named East, Central and West Branch docks. Between the tidal basin and Main Dock were two dry docks
In 1909 Tilbury, along with the upstream docks, became part of the newly established Port of London Authority (PLA).
In 1921, and again in 1929, the PLA carried out major improvements. These included a new lock 1,000 feet (300 m) long and 110 ft (34 m) wide, linking the docks directly to the Thames to the west at Northfleet Hope, and a third dry dock, 752 feet (229 m) long and 110 feet (34 m) wide. These works were carried out by Sir Robert McAlpine.
During the 1960s, at the time when the upstream docks were closing, the PLA further extended the Tilbury dock facilities. Between 1963–1966 a huge fourth branch dock, running north from Main Dock for nearly 1 mile (1.6 km), was constructed. The tidal basin was closed and eventually filled in. In 1969 a £6M riverside grain terminal on Northfleet Hope (at the time the largest in Europe) was brought into use. By the early 1980s Tilbury was the last set of enclosed docks in operation by the PLA.
The PLA funded a new £30M container port which opened in 1967. Labour issues prevented full service from starting until April 1970, although United States Lines reached an agreement with the union to begin service in 1968. In 1978, a deep water riverside berth was opened for large container ships on reclaimed land at Northfleet Hope.
In 1992 the port was privatised and is part of the Forth Ports organisation, the PLA retaining the role of managing the tidal Thames.
Today the port handles a variety of bulk cargo, timber, cars and container traffic and remains, along with Southampton and Felixstowe, one of Britain's three major container ports. It is the main UK port for importing paper including newsprint.
The Port of Tilbury Police, among the oldest of such forces in the UK, are responsible for the security of the Port.
The port is also a base of operations of Thurrock Sea Cadets, who operate out of TS Iveston (a Coniston class former minesweeper ).
Seafarers welfare charity, Apostleship of the Sea, which provides practical and pastoral support to seafarers, has a port chaplain based at the port.
Tilbury Branch Dock 1973
Tilbury branch dock
Tilbury branch dock 2019
To the left a bulk carrier of iron and metal waste and to the right a storage vessel for liquid CO2 , Tilbury has become a mixed use port with not only containers but many other products and services.
Tilbury East Branch dock 1973
Tilbury east branch dock with dry docks at the eastern end.
Tilbury east branch dock 2019
The cranes and warehouses have gone and have been replaced by metal for recycling and a safe harbour for vessels of discovery.
Tilbury dry docks 1973
Eastward view of the dry docks branching off from the main dock.
Main dock and dry docks at Tilbury 2019
The dry docks are no longer in use and new warehouses have appeared to service the ever expanding clients of Tilbury.
Tilbury main dock 1973
Tilbury main dock with the entrance from the Thames in the far corner.
Tilbury Main dock 2019
New freezer warehouses across the dock and now wind farm technology is on the river.
Tilbury Rail terminal 1973
Old rail terminal for cruise ships and new 36 warehouse
Tilbury Warehouses and storage 2019
The old railway station for cruise ships is long gone and mixed imports and cement now occupy the dock warehouses.
Tilbury container transit truck 1973
Container transit truck north of extension dock.
Cargo handling alongside the extension dock at Tilbury 2019
The containers have moved and general cargoes are handled and stored in warehouses next to the extension dock.
Tilbury extension dock 1973
Tilbury extension dock and container storage
Tilbury extension dock 1973
Tilbury extension dock and warehouse 36
Tilbury Extension dock 2019
The container area of the port is now to the south of extension dock and mixed cargoes are traditionally unloaded at this dock.
Tilbury extension dock 1974
The south side of Tilbury extension dock running 24/7
Tilbury extension dock containers 2019
Still running 24/7 the container port is still a major part of Tilbury.
Tilbury grain terminal 1973
Tilbury grain terminal on the Thames
Tilbury Grain terminal 2019
The largest dockland grain storage depot on the Thames is being modernised at Tilbury.
Map of Tilbury Docks
since 1973 when i first visited Tilbury there have been no changes to the actual docks, only their surroundings and facilities.
