London Docklands

The London Docklands were for centuries the heart of London. They were integral to the establishment and expansion of the British Empire. They were the places where goods arrived from exotic locations such as Constantinople and they were the places from which so many ships left on voyages of exploration and conquest.^{[1] p105} In the 17th and 18th centuries, they became the centre of industry.^{[1] p163}

The Docklands are in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, south of Poplar. They are, as the name suggests, associated with the history of the River Thames and England’s shipping industry.

Museum of London Docklands

I visited the Museum of London Docklands to find out more about this history. If you have not been there yet, I highly recommend it. Though be aware that it has a lot of school groups and they are noisy and annoying!

Entry to the museum is free. Bookings are only required for temporary exhibitions. It is located at No 1, West India Quay. I got there by taking the tube to Canary Wharf and walking over the footbridge.

Slavery exhibition

Some of my ancestors on my father’s adoptive line were Jamaican slave owners, so I was very interested to view the museum’s slavery exhibition.

The museum has made a great attempt at a more honest portrayal of British involvement in slavery, acknowledging how the empire was built on the profits of slave trade. It includes perspectives from the enslaved themselves, notes how the campaign took over fifty years to make a difference and also acknowledges the crucial involvement of women in the abolition campaign. Although I did overhear a tour guide still contributing the abolition of slavery to Wilberforce. The Brits do love their ‘heros’.

Watermen and lightermen

Many of my father’s ancestors were watermen and lightermen on the Thames. I was delighted to find many images of lightermen, models of their boats and also a waterman’s uniform and buckle.