Can you picture a hospital next to the Tower of London? That was St Katharine’s by the Tower. It stood for centuries before making way for progress. Today we explore St Katharine Docks. It’s a place born from this history.
St Katharine Docks gets its name from the former hospital of St Katharine’s by the Tower. This hospital was built in the 12th century. It stood proudly until the 19th century.
In 1825, Parliament decided to redevelop the area. The St Katharine’s Dock Act of 1825 set the stage. Construction began in May 1827. Imagine the upheaval. About 1250 houses were torn down. The medieval hospital of St Katharine also disappeared. Around 11300 people lost their homes. These were mostly port workers living in slums. Sadly, only property owners received compensation.
Thomas Telford designed the new docks. It was his only major project in London. He wanted to minimize quayside activity. Philip Hardwick designed warehouses right on the quayside. This allowed goods to be unloaded directly into them.
The docks officially opened on October 25, 1828. Despite being well-used, they weren’t a huge success. Large ships couldn’t use them easily. In 1864, St Katharine Docks joined with the neighboring London Docks. The Port of London Authority took over management in 1909.
The Second World War brought devastation. German bombs heavily damaged St Katharine Docks. Warehouses around the eastern basin were destroyed. The area remained derelict for decades. The dock entrance lock was rebuilt in 1957. Commercial use ended in 1968.
The docks couldn’t handle modern ships. So St Katharine Docks closed in 1968. The Greater London Council bought the site. Developers transformed the area. Warehouses became modern commercial buildings. The Tower Hotel opened in 1973. It was followed by the World Trade Centre Building and Commodity Quay. The eastern basin was completed in the 1990s. The docks transformed into a marina.
There was even a plan for a St Katharine Docks Underground station. It would have been on the Jubilee line. The extension took a different route. Today, Tower Hill and Tower Gateway DLR are the closest stations.
In 1985, Vodafone made the first UK cellular phone call from here. From 2005 to 2008, a Danish lightship served as a restaurant on the west dock.
Today, St Katharine Docks is a vibrant area. It features offices, housing, and a large hotel. You will also find shops, restaurants, and a pub called The Dickens Inn. A yachting marina adds to the appeal. The east dock is now the City Quay residential development.
Look for the anchor from the Dutch East Indiaman Amsterdam. It’s on display at the entrance to the east dock.
The Royal Barge Gloriana and MV Havengore are often moored here. Several Thames sailing barges also call these docks home.
St Katharine Docks has appeared in films. It was a filming location for “To The Devil – A Daughter” and “Men.” The Rolling Stones even took a photo here for their album cover.
Tower Bridge Quay is nearby. It offers river transport services.
St Katharine Docks has transformed. It stands as a testament to London’s ever-changing landscape. From medieval hospital to modern leisure complex, its story is etched in every stone and ripple of water.