Surrey Commercial Docks facts for kids
The Surrey Commercial Docks were a big group of docks in Rotherhithe, South East London. They were located on the south side of the River Thames. These docks were very important for trade and shipping in London for many years.
They operated in different ways from 1699 until 1969. Most of the docks were later filled in. New homes and buildings were built on the land. Today, this area is known as Surrey Quays. However, the name Surrey Docks is still used for the local election area.
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History of the Surrey Docks
The Rotherhithe peninsula was once a wet, marshy area next to the river. It was not good for farming. But, its location near the City of London made it perfect for building docks. This area had a long history with ships and the sea.
For example, in July 1620, the Pilgrim Fathers' ship, the Mayflower, sailed from Rotherhithe. It went to Southampton to load supplies for its journey to New England. Also, a big Royal Navy dockyard was located nearby at Deptford.
How the Docks Started and Grew
In 1699, a large dock called Howland Great Wet Dock was dug. It was named after the family who owned the land. This dock was the biggest of its time. It could hold 120 sailing ships at once.
By the mid-1700s, this dock became a base for ships that hunted whales in the Arctic. It was then renamed Greenland Dock. Later, in the 1800s, many ships arrived from Scandinavia and the Baltic Sea. They mainly brought timber. Ships from Canada also brought food for London's people.
Because of all this new trade, Greenland Dock was made much bigger. Other docks were also dug to handle the growing number of ships. Eventually, about 85% of the peninsula was covered by docks. This huge area included nine docks, six timber ponds, and a canal.
Names and Workers of the Docks
Many docks were named after where their cargo came from. For example, there was Canada Dock, Quebec Pond, Norway Dock, and Russia Dock. The Grand Surrey Canal opened in 1807. It was meant to connect the docks with places further inland. However, it was not very successful, and only a small part of it was ever built.
The docks had a special working culture. The "deal porters" were a unique sight. These dock workers were experts at carrying huge pieces of timber on their shoulders. They wore special headgear to protect their heads from the rough wood.
The Docks After World War II
The docks started to decline after World War II. They were badly damaged by German air raids. The South Dock was even drained of water. It was used to build concrete parts for the Mulberry Harbours. These were temporary harbours used during D-Day in France.
Later, the shipping industry started using large containers to move goods. The old docks were not deep or wide enough for these much bigger container ships. Because of this, the Surrey Commercial Docks finally closed in 1969. The Grand Surrey Canal also closed in 1971 and was filled in.
The area was left empty and unused for over ten years. Many warehouses were pulled down. More than 90% of the docks were filled in. Only Greenland Dock, South Dock, parts of Canada Dock (now called Canada Water), and a basin called Surrey Water remained open.
In 1981, the government decided to redevelop the old dock areas east of the City of London. This included the Surrey Docks.
Surrey Quays Today
During the 1980s and early 1990s, the Surrey Docks area was completely rebuilt. It was renamed Surrey Quays. Over 5,500 new homes were built. These included single houses and large apartment buildings.
South Dock was turned into a marina, which is a place for boats to dock. It is now the biggest marina in London. A watersports centre was built on Greenland Dock. Canada Water and the filled-in Russia Dock became places for wildlife. A woodland park was planted on the old Russia Dock site.
Most of Norway Dock was dug out again to create a water feature with homes around it. Another water feature, the Albion Channel, was made along the east side of the old Albion Dock. It connects Canada Water and Surrey Water. New places for fun and some light factories were also built. This included a new printing works for newspapers like the London Evening Standard and the Daily Mail.
In July 1988, the Surrey Quays shopping centre opened. It became the main part of the new area. The nearby London Underground station was renamed Surrey Quays a few months later.
Surrey Docks is also a local area, or "ward," in the London Borough of Southwark. In 2011, about 13,435 people lived there.
See also
- Canada Water
- Greenland Dock
- Russia Dock Woodland
- South Dock
- Grand Surrey Canal
