Behold these titans of steel. The Stothert And Pitt Cranes on the north and south sides of the Royal Victoria Dock stand as silent witnesses to a bygone era. These cranes are a testament to London’s rich maritime past. They represent the swansong of the docklands as a thriving industrial area.
The Royal Victoria Dock opened in 1855. It was the first of the Royal Docks. It accommodated large steamships. The dock quickly became a commercial success. It handled a massive amount of shipping. However, the Royal Victoria Dock experienced a decline from the 1960s onward. Containerisation shifted traffic downstream. The dock finally closed to commercial traffic in 1980.
These Stothert And Pitt Cranes are more than just relics of the past. They are a Grade II listed structure. They are the most concentrated ensemble of cranes surviving in London’s Docklands. There are fourteen cranes in total. They stand in pairs along the north and south docksides. Three pairs are on the north side and four on the south.
The westernmost pair dates back to the 1920s. The rest were built in 1962. All fourteen cranes were made by Stothert & Pitt. Stothert & Pitt was the most famous crane maker in the world. The cranes originally ran the length of the quayside. They are no longer travelling cranes and are now in fixed positions.
The 1920s cranes have a traditional appearance. They feature riveted-steel lattice towers and jibs. The 1962 cranes showcase an innovative DD2 design. This design has all-welded tubular steel. The DD2 crane won the Council of Industrial Design Award in 1968. Hundreds were used worldwide.
These Stothert And Pitt Cranes evoke a sense of awe. They possess an almost sublime quality. This is particularly true in silhouette. They stand as a reminder of London’s industrial heritage. They also remind us of the constant evolution of trade.
Photographs from the 1950s and 1960s show the cranes in far greater numbers. They were particularly prevalent alongside the neighboring Royal Albert Dock. Sadly, none survive there now. The survival of these fourteen Stothert And Pitt Cranes is remarkable. They offer a tangible link to the past. They allow us to imagine the bustling activity that once defined this area. The Stothert And Pitt Cranes stand tall. They bridge the gap between past and present.