River Thames Dockland Heritage: London Bridge to Greenwich

Londons docks were once the busiest in Britain, but they have been closed and redeveloped. This book follows the Thames Path to examine the changes and heritage that remains on both sides of the river, including the Regents Canal and the sewer network.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 96 pages
Publication date: 15 September 2022
Publisher: Amberley Publishing

Once upon a time, London's docks were the busiest in Britain. They had evolved gradually from the early 19th century, as the existing riverside wharves became overcrowded and theft became rampant. Dock systems were constructed on both banks of the Thames. The largest group, known as 'The Royals,' consisting of the Royal Victoria, Royal Albert, and King George V Docks, created the largest enclosed dock area in the world.

However, changes in cargo handling methods, such as containerization, led to all new developments being concentrated at Tilbury from the late 1960s. As a result, the closure of the London docks, along with nearly all of the private riverside wharves and canal wharves, occurred. To redevelop the dock sites, the London Docklands Development Corporation was established.

So, what replaced the docks? And what remains to remind us of what was there before? This book follows the Thames Path, which has unveiled much of what was once a largely hidden world, from London Bridge to Greenwich, to examine the changes and the heritage that remains on both sides of the river. Additionally, it includes the Regents Canal, which transported goods into London and connected to the Midlands, and the sewer network that utilizes the Thames.

Weight: 284g
Dimension: 233 x 167 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781398108769