London Yard facts for kids
London Yard was a busy place in London where ships were built. It was used from about 1856 to 1908. Different companies, like Westwood, Baillie and Yarrow Shipbuilders, worked there.
Contents
Where Was London Yard?
London Yard was located in a part of London called Cubitt Town. This area is on the Isle of Dogs. It sat right on the north bank of the River Thames. The yard was between the river and a road called Manchester Road.
It covered about 8 acres (3.2 ha) of land. That's like 8 football fields! It also had about 180 feet (55 m) of riverfront.
History of London Yard
Early Days: Westwood and Baillie
In 1856, two men named Robert Baillie and Joseph Westwood bought this land. Their company, Westwood and Baillie, started building ships here. One famous ship they built was HMS Resistance.
Later, the company focused more on making bridges from iron and steel. Westwood and Baillie closed down in 1893.
Yarrows Takes Over
In 1898, another shipbuilding company called Yarrows took over the yard. Yarrows needed a bigger space because their old yard was too small. They built many fast ships called torpedo boat destroyers at London Yard.
However, shipbuilding in London started to slow down. So, between 1906 and 1908, Yarrows moved their whole business. They went to a new location in Scotstoun, Glasgow, which is in Scotland.
From Ships to Soups
In 1917, a local company called C. & E. Morton bought the land. This company made soups, pickles, and jams! They used the old shipyard to make packing cases and for storage. About 600 people worked for Mortons at this site.
Mortons sold the site in 1936.
World War II and Beyond
During World War II, it's believed that parts for the Mulberry harbours were built here. These special harbours were used to help the D-Day invasion in Normandy.
After the war, a company called Badcocks of Greenwich bought the site. Other businesses also moved in, using the buildings that were already there.
Redevelopment of the Site
By 1972, the London Yard site was empty. In 1977, the GLC bought it. They planned to build homes, a water-sports center, and a boat-building yard. But they found a lot of pollution in the ground, which stopped their plans.
The land then went to the London Docklands Development Corporation. It was later sold to a private company. This made London Yard one of the first places on the Isle of Dogs to be redeveloped.
Today, 312 homes stand on the site. They were finished in 1988. The development also created a new beach area along the river. A riverside walkway was also opened for everyone to enjoy.
