King George V Dock, London facts for kids
Quick facts for kids King George V Dock |
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The Blue Funnel Line cargo liner Menestheus in King George V Dock around 1940
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| Location | London |
| Built | 1921 |
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The King George V Dock is a famous part of London's history. It is located in the London Borough of Newham. This dock is one of three big docks in east London, known as the Royal Docks. Today, this area has been redeveloped and is a modern part of London Docklands.
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Building the King George V Dock
Work on the King George V Dock started in 1912. It was built by the Port of London Authority. This group managed the River Thames and its docks. The dock was the last of London's big enclosed docks to be built far up the river.
Construction was paused because of the First World War. But it was finally finished in 1921. Even though it was smaller than the other Royal Docks, it was very important. It had its own entrance from the Thames river.
How Ships Entered the Dock
Ships entered the dock through a special lock. This lock helped control the water level. There was also a bascule bridge at the entrance. A bascule bridge is a type of movable bridge. It opens by lifting one end, like a seesaw.
The dock was large enough for huge ships. It could even hold famous ocean liners. One example was the RMS Mauretania. At the western end of the dock, there was a large graving dock. This was like a giant bathtub for ships.
Ship Repairs and Maintenance
The graving dock was used for ship repairs. It also had a machine shop nearby. A company called Harland and Wolff used these facilities. They were famous for building and repairing ships. The graving dock has since been filled in.
Changes Over Time
From the 1960s, the King George V Dock started to decline. This happened to all of London's docks. The shipping industry began to change. They started using a new method called containerisation.
What is Containerisation?
Containerisation means using large metal boxes, called containers. These containers are filled with goods. They can be easily moved between ships, trains, and trucks. This made shipping much faster and more efficient.
However, London's older docks were not built for these huge containers. So, shipping traffic moved downstream. It went to places like the Port of Tilbury. Tilbury had modern facilities for containers.
The Dock's Closure and New Life
The King George V Dock finally closed to commercial ships in 1981. The other Royal Docks also closed at the same time. But the area soon got a new purpose.
In the late 20th century, the docklands were redeveloped. London City Airport was built on the north side of the dock. It has a single runway. The airport opened in 1987. Also, the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) now serves the area. The King George V station opened in 2005. It is named after the historic dock.
