London Photo Gallery - Wapping Part 1

The Thames riverfront east of the city was previously the London Docks that opened in the early 19th century with busy wharves and warehouse buildings. Luxury goods such as wine, tobacco, coffee, and tea from the empire's further reaches were unloaded and stored here, and a sailor and ship-building community grew around them, even hosting pirate executions. As containerization became the new method of shipping, the shipping industry moved further downstream by the 1960s. The Wapping area still contains a number of 19th century buildings related to the port industry. After the docks closed in the late 1960s, the industrial character changed as some buildings were repurposed into residential use. This walk starts just east of St. Katharine Docks along Wapping High Street towards the rail station. Along the way, there are several historic staircases in between buildings leading to the riverbank. For older photos, check out my walk from Canary Wharf to St. Katharine Docks along the Thames Path.