The West India Docks were a series of three docks, quaysides and warehouses.
The West India Docks played a significant role in London’s maritime history. They were established on the Isle of Dogs to facilitate the import and export of goods, including those from the British West Indies. The first dock opened in 1802, and they remained operational until their commercial closure in 1980. The subsequent development of Canary Wharf incorporated the existing wet docks by narrowing some of their wider areas.
The driving force behind the construction of the West India Docks was Robert Milligan, a wealthy merchant, slave trader, and ship owner who had managed his family’s sugar plantations in Jamaica. Milligan, along with influential businessmen such as George Hibbert, promoted the idea of building a high-walled wet dock to address issues of theft and delay experienced at London’s riverside wharves. Through their efforts, the West India Dock Company was established, and the docks were authorised by the West India Dock Act of 1799. Milligan played a significant role in the company, serving as both deputy chairman and chairman.
The construction of the docks occurred in two phases. The northern docks were built between 1800 and 1802 under the guidance of civil engineer William Jessop. These docks were the first commercial wet docks in London. In the 1860s, the southern dock, known as the South West India Dock or South Dock, was constructed to replace the unprofitable City Canal, which had been built in 1805.
In 1909, the Port of London Authority (PLA) assumed control of the West India Docks, as well as other enclosed docks from St Katharine’s to Tilbury. However, from 1960 to 1980, trade in the docks declined significantly. The rise of shipping containers rendered the relatively small docks inefficient, and the dock owners were slow to adapt to the changing industry. Additionally, manufacturing exports, which had sustained the dock’s trade, diminished and relocated away from the area. Consequently, the West India Docks were closed in 1981.
Following the closure of the docks, the area underwent regeneration as part of the Docklands development scheme. This led to the establishment of Canary Wharf, a major commercial and financial district. The initial phase of Canary Wharf was built over the water, resulting in a reduction in the width of the north and middle docks. Canary Wharf tube station was constructed within the middle dock in the 1990s. Part of the original dock building was repurposed as the Museum of London Docklands, which opened in 2003, providing insights into the history of the docks and the surrounding area.
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The West India Docks were a series of three docks, quaysides and warehouses.
