The site has a long history, having been a hospital in the 12th century, from which the docks take their name. 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)[4] on a site parallel to the river just to the east of Tower Bridge. 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. The dock, designed in 1828, was once one of the busiest ports in the UK, renowned for the handling luxury goods, sugar, rum, spices, perfumes, wines and teas. Terms and Conditions   |   Privacy Policy, Subscribe to email updates to hear about new articles, the new London docks of the early 19th century. In the 18 th century Merchant William Vaughn lobbied to increase the dock’s capacity to be able to import more goods. 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. They were built of yellow-grey London bricks and white stone sills, six storeys tall, and with two levels of underground vaults. From London Bridge, walk east down Tooley Street, cross Tower Bridge, and St. Katharine’s Dock can be seen to the right. When Parliament was considering the Acts that permitted the creation of the original docks there was strong lobbying from the City of London. He agreed compensation of £127,000 to be invested in four per cent annuities for the Foundation, and for the church to relocate to Regent’s Park, including a school, almshouses, and a magnificent house for himself. St Katharine's by the Tower (full name Royal Hospital and Collegiate Church of St. Katharine by the Tower) was a medieval church and hospital next to the Tower of London.The establishment was founded in 1147 and the buildings demolished in 1825 to build St Katharine Docks, which takes its name from it.It was re-established elsewhere in London and 123 years later returned once more to the East End. In 1980, a plan was approved to open a St Katharine Docks Underground station on the proposed extension of the Jubilee line. From 1828 to 1968, it was one of the commercial docks that made up the Port of London. It would have been between Fenchurch Street and Wapping. His plan was for a central basin that led into east and west docks, a clever use of the relatively small space that could accommodate up to 120 ships. St Katharine Docks opened on the 25th October 1828. In the early 1820s a group of influential businessmen considered yet again the possibility of redeveloping the Precinct of St. Katharine as docks and they formed the St. Katharine Dock Company. Photoplan Ltd was formed in February 2004 from the bedroom of Managing Director Ben Gutierrez and from the outset he wanted to create a service that would provide the Property Industry and Property Professionals with exceptional high quality Property Photography & Floor Plans. Although well used, they were not a great commercial success and were unable to accommodate large ships. Thus a ‘free water clause’ was included in each of the Dock Acts that allowed lighters to freely enter the docks to carry away cargoes to wharves on the open river. Some 1250 houses were demolished, together with the medieval hospital of St. Katharine. Today, one of the only existing warehouses is named Ivory House – a nod to the former docks’ trading history. Plan drawn up for the St. Katharine Dock Company showing the street and buildings which would need to be demolished to make way for the new dock. Free trade and increased competition began to force each of the dock companies to cut the rates charged to ships, as well as paying out lower dividends to shareholders. St Katharine Docks is actually made up of three basins, three intercommunicating Docks located one level higher than the Thames. All the warehouses around the eastern basin were destroyed, and the site they had occupied remained derelict until the 1990s.[3]. Baynes. Tobacco was unloaded at the King’s warehouse and a small dock was capable of receiving vessels of up to 300 tons. The History of London © 2021. The St Katharine Docks were badly damaged by German bombing during the Second World War. With the increase in trade in the early years of the nineteenth century, the London Docks had been built in Wapping and the St. Katharine’s Dock Company wanted to expand their dock in order to compete more successfully. 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. Each restaurant interior combines the simple, earthy, cosy and homely atmosphere that our founder experienced on his travels with individual features that capture and reflect the history of the building and its surrounding areas. In the earliest days of the 19th century dockers were employed on a permanent basis. They show a scene of bustling prosperity that it was hoped the new docks would bring. [6] 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. Coaches and taxis can drop off and pick up on the East Smithfield Road just at the entrance of St. Katharine’s Dock. The coming and going of sailing ships was dependent on the weather and was unpredictable. Take a walk along the docks (located near Tower Bridge) to admire the boats and enjoy the local pubs and restaurants. Ivory House, St Katharine Docks Morpheus London has recently completed the interior design of a three bedroom penthouse apartment in Ivory House, St Katharine Docks. At the start of the 19th century the Precinct was a crowded mixture of warehouses, workshops, shops, taverns, merchants’ houses, brothels, and hundreds of poor-quality houses, all laid out in an unplanned fashion. They were amalgamated in 1864 with the neighbouring London Docks. History The original building stood on a Thames side site just east of its current location. Cranes, fixed to the warehouses and swinging out over the ships’ decks, hoisted cargoes straight into the warehouses without the need for transit sheds and, likewise, lowered goods down to carts in the roads outside the docks. The St. Katharine Dock Bill was therefore passed by Parliament in June 1825. 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. History. It remains a popular leisure destination. Over the next three years, Blackstone completed a major restoration. Rome2rio is a door-to-door travel information and booking engine, helping you get to and from any location in the world. Restaurants near St. Katharine Docks, London on Tripadvisor: Find traveler reviews and candid photos of dining near St. Katharine Docks in London, United Kingdom. Only property owners received compensation. It is situated on the north bank of the Thames, on the east side of Tower Bridge, and immediately in front of the Thistle Tower Hotel. It lies on the north bank of the River Thames, immediately downstream of the Tower of London and Tower Bridge. “Picturesque docks only a few minutes away from the Tower of London” A prestigious landmark with rich history, eye-catching innovation, and huge excitement. New tariffs from 1st April 2016. George Turnbull and James Waylen were working for Telford. The area had a strong community, with a church (St Katherine’s), a hospital and school. [10] In October 2017, however, Blackstone withdrew the property from the market because bids were below the asking price.[9]. 2250 sq ft four-bedroom penthouse offers beautiful views over St Katharine Docks and across the Thames. Opening of St Katharine Docks, 25 October 1828, 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. [7], The marina, including restaurants and offices, was owned by Max Property Group, operated by investor Nick Leslau, since 2011,[8] and was sold to Blackstone Group in 2014. The apartment is bright and airy, featuring two roof terraces and a patio. The east dock is now dominated by the City Quay residential development, comprising more than 200 privately owned flats overlooking the marina. St. Katharine’s Dock At the beginning of the nineteenth century a new danger arose, which was to succeed where the Puritans and the Gordon Rioters had failed, and destroy the old church. An additional warehouse was … Subscribe to our e-mail newsletter to receive updates. 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. The St. Katharine Dock Bill was therefore passed by Parliament in June 1825. Thereafter hundreds of men waited outside dock gates each day in the hope of a few hours work at low hourly rates in a system called ‘the call-on’. Some 1250 houses were demolished, together with the medieval hospital of St. Katharine. In 1836 the St Katharine Docks was redesigned and become able to handle more goods faster then any other sites in the world. Development around the eastern basin was completed in the 1990s; the docks themselves becoming a marina. There has been a dock to the east of the Tower of London, for about a thousand years. Despite the austere and monumental style, the warehouses at St. Katharine’s, designed by Sir Philip Hardwick, were some of the finest that would ever be constructed in London’s dock system. St Katharine Docks Information & History An intensely built-up 23 acre site was earmarked for redevelopment by an Act of Parliament in 1825, with construction commencing in May 1827. All Rights Reserved. The main service from St Katharine Pier is a circular river cruise operated by Crown River Cruises which goes non-stop to Westminster Millennium Pier before returning via the South Bank arts centre, as well as a Westminster-Greenwich express service run by Thames River Services. St Katharina Docks. Established in 2004. The development has often been cited as a model example of successful urban redevelopment.[3]. St Katharine Docks opened on the 25th October 1828. The River Thames is at the bottom of the map as shown by St Katherine’s Stairs on the lower left. Katharine’s before the Docks’ (London Topographical Society newsletter). This venue fuses a great menu with swashbuckling medieval entertainment in the form of elaborate sword fighting displays, magicians, jugglers, contortionists and more. In 1909, the Port of London Authority took over the management of almost all of the Thames docks, including St Katharine Dock. securing a berth at central London's only marina, will give you the opportunity to explore the capital's multiple events & celebrations over the winter. St. Katherine's Docks were begun in 1827, and publicly opened in 1828—a Herculean bit of work, performed with a speed and vigour unusual even to English enterprise. The St Katherine story has its roots in St Katharine Docks, London, England. The anchor from the wreck of the Dutch East Indiaman Amsterdam is on display at the entrance to the east dock.[11]. [13], The nearby Tower Millennium Pier, located on the other side of Tower Bridge, now provides the main commuter river boat services to Canary Wharf and Greenwich in the east and the West End in the west, and a fast visitor service to the London Eye. Waitrose St Katharine Docks local products: A product is defined as 'local' if it is made within a 30-mile radius of the Waitrose branch where it is sold. St Katharine Docks Information & History An intensely built-up 23 acre site was earmarked for redevelopment by an Act of Parliament in 1825, with construction commencing in May 1827. We It specialized mostly in tea from India and wool from Australia, New Zealand and the Falkland Islands as well as a large range of luxury and exotic items from around the world, including ivory, china, ostrich feathers, spices, tortoiseshell, mother of pearl, oriental carpets, raw materials to manufacture perfume, carpets, guano (used as a fertilizer) and tallow (used in soap manufacturing and cooking). The south side of the east dock is surrounded by the South Quay Estate which was originally social housing. Even on a cold, cloudy, wet day, it is enjoyable to walk through St Katherine Docks, particularly as now more of the eating and drinking places are opening up. By this method ships could be loaded or unloaded much quicker than the other docks. The dock was also considered of strategic value, due to the vital shipping using it. Use Rightmove online house price checker tool to find out exactly how much properties sold for in St. Katharine Docks since 1995 (based on official Land Registry data). There has been a dock to the east of the Tower of London, for about a thousand years. [12], St. Katharine Pier is close to the St Katharine Dock, providing river transport services managed by London River Services. Certain types of cargo, such as tea, wool, sugar, grain or timber were also seasonal. He was estranged from his wife Caroline who anyway died in 1821 so, for a rare time in its long history, St. Katharine’s lacked the royal protection of a queen consort. So the boats that have to enter into the marina, first pass through a lock (lock) whose level is raised: the water is pumped from the river, to be at the same level of the docks. The Tower of London was considered a prestigious target and heavily damaging it did help demoralise the people of Britain. The Medieval Banquet is located in Ivory House beyond Guomans Tower Hotel. In August 1948, my father took the following photo of the dock entrance, whilst on a boat travelling from Westminster to Greenwich. Although the area was small compared with space available at the existing docks, it had the great advantage of being closer to the vast market of the City of London, in those days still Britain’s greatest manufacturer of numerous types of goods. It was re-established elsewhere in London and 123 years later returned once more to the East End. The Ivory House, St Katherines Dock, London, E1W. Image credit: London Metropolitan Archives, City of London: catalogue ref: p5412730 The promoters of the Bill undertook intense lobbying, while the residents and supporters of St. Katharine’s submitted petitions against the development. Forward to The Port of London in the Age of Steam >. securing a berth at central London's only marina, will give you the opportunity to explore the capital's multiple events & celebrations over the winter. It is in the redevelopment zone known as Docklands and is now a popular housing and leisure complex. St. Katharine's Docks and Warehouses cover an area of about 24 acres, of which about 11 acres is water, capable of accommodating 120 or 130 ships, besides barges and small craft. St. Katharine Docks is a special place during the winter and a safe destination for your boat. Find all the transport options for your trip from Old Street (Station) to St Katharine Docks right here. To cut costs the docks moved to employing labourers on a casual basis. 11,300 inhabitants lost their home. St Katharine Docks soon became popular for sugar, rum, tea, spices, perfumes, ivory, shells, marble, indigo, wine and brandy, arriving from Europe, Asia, Africa and the Caribbean. The History. Around 11,300 inhabitants, mostly port workers crammed into unsanitary slums, lost their homes; only the property owners receive… 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. Set on the top floor of The Ivory House, close to Tower Bridge, this approx. In the 18 th century Merchant William Vaughn lobbied to increase the dock’s capacity to be able to import more goods. They were protecting the interests of both the wharves that were located along their stretch of the river and the lightermen who had for centuries moved cargoes from ship to shore. Both our St. Katharine Docks and Aldgate restaurants have identical main menus. The Times reported that 1,250 houses and tenements were destroyed – displacing 11,300 inhabitants – as well as the medieval and historic hospital and its 14th century church. [14], "Urban Structure and Characterisation Study", "Secret millionaire Nick Leslau buys St Katharine Docks", "Renovation of St Katharine Docks in London complete", "London's St Katharine Docks up for sale", "Amsterdam Anchor St Katherine Docks London England", "Sailing Barge Association – where to see Thames Barges", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=St_Katharine_Docks&oldid=996125526, Geography of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, History of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, Transport infrastructure completed in 1828, Redeveloped ports and waterfronts in London, Short description is different from Wikidata, Official website different in Wikidata and Wikipedia, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 24 December 2020, at 17:55. Ivory House, St Katharine’s & Wapping, London E1W 1BP. The ending of the early monopolies, together with the opening of the St. Katharine Docks, brought to an end the London dock boom and the high profits of the early 19th century. ... Joolz Guides - London History Walks - Travel Films Recommended for you. This was followed by the World Trade Centre Building and Commodity Quay (both designed by architects Watkins Gray International). Notable boats regularly moored in the docks include: Several Thames sailing barges are also based in the docks. Rome2rio is a door-to-door travel information and booking engine, helping you get to and from any location in the world. This important dock is key to understanding your family history connections to life in London’s Docklands between 17th to the 19th centuries. A walk around St Katherines Dock in London and around Tower Bridge. St Katharine Docks Marina: London’s Best Kept Secret! Their arrival or departure could be delayed for days or even weeks, while at other times a large group of ships might arrive at the same time. The St Katharine Dock, that provided private access to the Hospital is shown on the right of the map. One of the most unique attractions near St Katharine Docks, and indeed the whole of London, is The Medieval Banquet. [5] An eastwards extension was eventually built as part of the Jubilee line, but took a different route south of the Thames. Queen Charlotte died in 1818. In 1836 the St Katharine Docks was redesigned and become able to handle more goods faster then any other sites in the world. Direct competitors, such as the neighboring London Dock Company, also raised their objections. A beautiful marina with shops, bars & restaurants situated next to the Tower of London and Tower Bridge. They were built directly up to the water’s edge inside the docks and to the roadside on the exterior of the docks. This area of the St Katherines docks managed to save itself from this destructive process for another 20 years, as the area of St Catherine (note the spelling). We are keeping up to date with the guidance and rules that are aimed at keeping everyone safe. There has been a dock to the east of the Tower of London, for about a thousand years. The Dickens Inn is an ideal venue for functions, parties and room hire. Even on a cold, cloudy, wet day, it is enjoyable to walk through St Katherine Docks, particularly as now more of the eating and drinking places are opening up. In August 1948, my father took the following photo of the dock entrance, whilst on a boat travelling from Westminster to Greenwich. The History. The timing couldn’t have been worse for the Precinct, however. With decreasing profits, the dock companies sought ways to reduce costs and it was the workers who suffered most. St Katharine’s is closed from Monday 21st December 2020 and will reopen to welcome customers on Monday 4th January 2021. Sources include: John Pudney ‘London’s Docks’; Fiona Rule ‘London’s Docklands’; Arthur Bryant ‘Liquid History’; Christopher West ‘The Story of St.Katharine’s’; Catherine Jamison, ‘The History of the Royal Hospital of St.Katharine’; John Summerson ‘Georgian London’; Liza Picard ‘Victorian London’; Jerry White ‘London In The 19th Century’; Milicent Rose ‘The East End of London’; D.J.Owen ‘The Port of London Yesterday & Today’; Ian Friel ‘Maritime History of Britain & Ireland’; Derek Morris & Ken Cozens ‘St. St. Katharine's Pier is a river transport pier on the River Thames, in London, UK.It is owned & operated by Woods River Cruises Ltd trading as Woods’ Silver Fleet and served by various river transport and cruise operators.. The Prince Regent effectively reigned the country. Thirteen acres of land were acquired by the dock company and demolition began almost immediately. The establishment was founded in 1147 and the buildings demolished in 1825 to build St Katharine Docks, which takes its name from it. Find all the transport options for your trip from St Katharine Docks to St Paul's Cathedral right here. During the good times that resulting loss of warehousing income was of small consequence to the companies but became a serious concern once profits were reduced. The final church service was held in October 1825. Morning Coffee JAZZ - …