St Katharine

Demolished to make way for docks. Can you imagine that? This is the site of St Katharine’s Hospital. A medieval hospital founded in 1147 by Queen Matilda. It stood right here. For centuries it thrived. It was a refuge for the poor and infirm. It was also a religious community. It boasted a chapel and a church. The church’s musical reputation rivaled even that of St Paul’s Cathedral. The precinct of St Katharine’s was a unique place. It had its own prison and court. It was a liberty outside the jurisdiction of the City of London. The precinct was densely populated. Around 11300 inhabitants lived here. Mostly port workers. Many were foreigners. They lived in cramped unsanitary slums. They were crammed into small tenements and humble cottages. In 1825 an Act of Parliament was passed. It called for the redevelopment of this area. The hospital and approximately 1250 houses were demolished. Only property owners received compensation. The inhabitants mostly port workers were left homeless. In their place arose St Katharine Docks. Engineer Thomas Telford designed the docks. They were his only major London project. The docks were designed with two basins. Steam engines kept the water level high. The warehouses were built right on the quayside. Goods could be unloaded directly into them. Architect Philip Hardwick designed the warehouses. The docks opened officially on 25 October 1828. They were not a great commercial success. They could not handle large ships. They were damaged in World War II. The warehouses around the eastern basin were destroyed. The docks were eventually closed in 1968. The site was redeveloped. Modern buildings replaced the old warehouses. The docks are now a popular marina. Luxury apartments offices shops and restaurants now line the water. St Katharine Docks. A place where history and modern life meet. A place transformed but not forgotten. The legacy of St Katharine’s Hospital endures.