LONDON 🇬🇧 ST KATHARINE’S DOCK

ST KATHARINE’S DOCK
Located on the East side of Tower Bridge and Tower of London, at the North Bank of River Thames, London.
Despite being so close to 2 major landmarks, this is not a place the average tourist would find and the dock has managed to maintain a very peaceful environment which is hard to find anywhere else in Central London.
Places to eat and drink, things to do aswell as lovely views to see in a village-like atmosphere.
The Dock is owned by billionaire Kwek Leng Beng, whose company bought it for £395 Million in 2023.
St Katharine Docks took its name from the former hospital of St Katharine’s by the Tower, built in the 12 century which stood on the site.
The history of the dock can be traced back to the 10th century when King Edgar gave 13 acres of land to 13 Knights for them to trade in foreign goods.
Since then, it has remained a centre of trade & commerce, playing an important role in the life of London.
From 1828-1968 it was one of the commercial docks that made up “The
Port of London”.
It was designed to handle valuable cargoes such as ivory, shells, sugar, marble, wines, fragrant spices & perfumes.
As late as 1930’s, together with London Docks it was referred to as having the world’s greatest concentration of portable wealth!
The site was redeveloped in 1827 with 1250 houses demolished incl the medieval hospital of St Katharine.
Around 11 300 inhabitants, mostly port workers crammed into unsanitary slums, lost their homes, with only the property owners getting compensation.
To create as much quay side as possible, the docks were designed as 2 linked basins (East & West), both accessed via an entrance lock from The Thames.
By 1830, the docks had cost over £2 Million to build.
The docks were badly damaged by German bombs during the 2nd World War, and the site remained derelict until the 1960’s.
The dock entrance lock was rebuilt 1957 but the dock ceased commercial use in 1968 and was sold to The Greater London Council.
In the early 1970’s, with the beginning of the bulky Tower Hotel, most of the original warehouses around the western basin was replaced by modern commercial buildings.
Development around the Eastern basin was completed in the 1990’s.
The Docks themselves became a Marina.
Vodafone made the first ever cellular telephone call in the UK on 1 January 1985 from St Katharine’s Dock to Newbury.
THE DICKEN’S INN, formerly a Brewery dating back to the 18th century, was opened as a pub by Charles Dickens Grandson, Cedric Charles Dickens in 1976 in the Marina. When asked why he opened it, he said , because his grandfather would have loved it!
The anchor from the wreck of the Dutch East Indiaman “Amsterdam” is on display near the entrance of the Dock.
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[@ClubCrafteria]

Nice watching the beautiful video

[@travel_and_explore_with_BIP]

Thank you very much! I appreciate!

[@sheilam4525]

Thank you for this vlog! Beautifully shot😊

[@travel_and_explore_with_BIP]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching and commenting!