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Docklands aerial view. 1934. |
Historical
information and images of the rise, fall and regeneration
of the London Docklands.
This page covers the period before 1800.
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London
has been a port since Roman times. It became an important
trading city because of its links to the rest of the country
over land and to the rest of the world through the river Thames.
Roman galleys moored along the river trading a range of goods
from around the Roman Empire. London continued to grow when
the Romans left and the river became very busy.
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Wharves below London
Bridge. |
London riverside
1732. |
During
the time of Queen Elizabeth the First, the river became so
crowded that there was sometimes nowhere for ships to unload
and they had to put their cargo onto smaller boats, which
would go to other parts of the river. The overcrowding also
meant that goods were often stolen. Laws were passed to control
where ships could legally moor and for how long they could
stay. The situation became much worse as ships became bigger
and London grew as a trading city. Something had to be done.
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Barges - by Thomas
Shepherd 1825. |
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