Introduction The development of London Docklands, entailing what is probably the most dramatic change to London's landscape since the Great Fire of London, has captured the attention of politicians, planners, the press and people throughout Britain interested in the regeneration of inner-city areas. The nature of the development, and the way it has been carried out, has been the subject of much controversy. The changes taking place in Docklands have also heightened interest in the history of the area, in why the docks were built and how they operated, and in the distinctive way of life that grew up around their operation in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. This book has been produced in response to the growing demand from schools for information and materials on the history of the docks. Its aim is to produce a series of skills-based exercises which will enable students to develop their understanding of historical concepts and develop their historical skills particularly those concerned with the use and evaluation of evidence. It is not therefore a comprehensive history of the docks or the people who lived and worked in Docklands. It selects aspects of this history to provide a basis for classroom exercises. In the main it focuses on the development and operation of the docks and on the men (for the working population in the docks was almost exclusively male) who worked in them. Some links have been drawn to the wider community but these have not been treated in depth. This may well provide an area for further research and enquiry on the part of students. The political discussions about the future of the docks which eventually led to the creation of the LDDC are also not dealt with here. This book is intended primarily for use in GCSE and Integrated Studies Courses though some parts of it may have a wider application in lower-school and sixth-form courses. Written by: Kieran Costello, formerly Education Officer, North Woolwich Old Station Museum Paul Grant, Head of History, St Bonaventure's School, Newham. We would like to thank the Tower Hamlets Arts Project for allowing us to include the accounts of the bombing on 7 September 1940 which appears in the book Black Saturday: The First Day of the Blitz, available at their bookshop, 178 Whitechapel Road, El. We are also grateful for the help of Howard Bloch and Jill Davies of the Local Studies Library, London Borough of Newham and most especially for the help and advice of Bob Aspinall, Librarian, PLA and Museum in Docklands Project. If you have any comments or questions about this book or on any aspect of the LDDC or if you wish to obtain copies of any material produced for schools, please contact: Schools Liaison Teacher, LDDC, Great Eastern Enterprise, Millharbour, London E14 9TJ. Edited by: Terry Fiehn. Educational Consultant and formerly Advisory Teacher ILEA. Series Consultant: Rosslyn Panatti, CPVE Co-ordinator, Gladesmore Community School, Haringey. Designed and produced by: Communications Centre Group, London EC1V OBX. Funded and published by: London Docklands Development Corporation. PLA Collection, Museum in Docklands Proiect - pages 6,8,10 (bottom), 11,16,18,19, 20,22 (all except top left), 23,30,31,32, 36,40,42,44 (top), 49, 50,51. 52,53, 54 (top), 56,59,62, (top right], 53, 64, 65, 67. Museum o( London - pages 4.5. National Portrait Gallery - page 9, National Buildings Record - page 17 [top right). The Mansell Collection - page 22 [top left). P & 0 Group - page 27 (top left). London Borough of Tower Hamlets, Local Studies Library - page 24 [bottom). London Borough of Newham, Local Studies Library - pages 27 (top right), 60, 62 [middle and bottom]. National Museum of Labour History-pages 33,34. 39,44 (middle]. National Museum of Photography, Film and Television - page 34 (top right). Island History Trust, Isle of Dogs - page 54 [middle). Imperial War Museum -page 58 (top right]. Plaistow Press - page 53 (bottom left). John Stevens - page 57. Other pictures have been taken directly from the sources quoted in the book. In one or two cases it has not been possible to trace the copyright holder; the publishers would be pleased to make good any omissions in future editions of the book. (c) LDDC 1990. Although any part of this book may be freely photocopied for non-commercial use by students, it may not be copied or reproduced for any other purpose without permission from the publisher.