St Katharine Docks facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Katharine Docks |
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 St Katharine Docks, London |
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 St Katharine Docks
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| London borough | |
| Ceremonial county | Greater London |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | LONDON |
| Postcode district | EC3 |
| Dialling code | 020 |
| Police | Metropolitan |
| Fire | London |
| Ambulance | London |
| EU Parliament | London |
| London Assembly | |
St Katharine Docks is a cool area in Central London, right next to the famous Tower of London and Tower Bridge. It's on the north side of the River Thames. This place used to be a busy port where ships brought goods from all over the world. From 1828 to 1968, it was one of the main commercial docks in the Port of London.
Today, St Katharine Docks is a lively place with homes, shops, and fun things to do. It's part of a big area called London Docklands that has been rebuilt and updated.
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History of St Katharine Docks
How St Katharine Docks Got Its Name
The docks are named after an old hospital called St Katharine's by the Tower. This hospital was built way back in the 1100s and used to stand right where the docks are now.
Building the Docks: A Big Project
In 1825, a special law was passed to allow the building of the docks. Construction started in May 1827. To make space for the new docks, about 1,250 houses were torn down. The old medieval hospital was also removed. Around 11,300 people who lived in these crowded homes lost their places to live. Only the people who owned property received money to help them.
The famous engineer Thomas Telford designed the docks. This was his only major project in London. He planned the docks with two connected basins, called East and West, which opened into the River Thames. Special steam engines, designed by James Watt and Matthew Boulton, kept the water level in the docks higher than the river. By 1830, building the docks cost over £2 million, which was a huge amount of money back then!
Telford wanted to make it easy to move goods. So, the warehouses, designed by architect Philip Hardwick, were built right next to the water. This meant ships could unload goods directly into the storage buildings.
Opening and Later Years
St Katharine Docks officially opened on October 25, 1828. Even though many ships used the docks, they didn't make a lot of money. Also, they weren't big enough for the largest ships. In 1864, they joined with the nearby London Docks. Later, in 1909, the Port of London Authority took over managing almost all the docks on the Thames, including St Katharine Dock.
During the Second World War, German bombing badly damaged St Katharine Docks. All the warehouses around the eastern basin were destroyed. The land where they stood remained empty for many years until the 1990s.
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An old plan showing the streets and buildings that were removed to build the new dock.
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The opening ceremony of St Katharine Docks on October 25, 1828.
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A view of the docks from above in 1829.
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St Katharine Docks Today
Today, St Katharine Docks is a modern area. You can find offices, homes, a big hotel, shops, and restaurants here. There's also a pub called The Dickens Inn, which used to be a brewery from the 1700s. It's a popular spot for people to visit and relax.
The docks also have a marina for yachts and other boats. The east dock is now home to the City Quay residential development, with over 200 private apartments looking out over the water. The south side of the east dock has the South Quay Estate, which was originally built for social housing. Small to medium-sized boats still use the dock every day.
You can see a cool piece of history at the entrance to the east dock: an anchor from the wreck of a Dutch ship called the Amsterdam.
Notable Boats at the Docks
Some special boats are often moored in St Katharine Docks:
- Gloriana: This is a royal barge, a type of boat used by the royal family.
- MV Havengore: This boat used to be a survey vessel for the Port of London Authority.
Several traditional Thames sailing barges also have their home in the docks.
St Katharine Pier
St. Katharine Pier is very close to St Katharine Docks. It's a place where you can catch a boat to travel on the river. London River Services manages the boat services from here.
One popular service is a circular river cruise by Crown River Cruises. This boat goes straight to Westminster Millennium Pier and then comes back, passing the South Bank arts center. There's also a fast service to Westminster and Greenwich run by Thames River Services.
The Tower Millennium Pier is nearby, on the other side of Tower Bridge. This pier offers the main commuter boat services. You can catch a boat from here to places like Canary Wharf and Greenwich in the east, or to the West End in the west. There's also a quick boat service for visitors going to the London Eye.
