Place    From 1696  To 1969

Surrey Docks

Categories: Commerce, Transport

The south bank of the Thames used to be in Surrey, now in Southwark. The first dock created here in 1696 was initially named Howland Great Wet Dock and then Greenland Dock due to the whaling ships that used it. By the mid 1800s the Commercial Dock Company had built many other docks on the east side of the Rotherhithe peninsula and the Surrey Dock Company had done the same on the west side. In 1865 the two companies merged to form the Surrey Commercial Docks Company. The bodies of water that we can see named on the 1889 insurance map are: Globe Pond, Lavender Pond, Acorn Pond, Lady Dock, Norway Dock, Greenland Dock, South Dock, Stave Dock, Russia Dock, Island Dock, Basin, Albion Dock, Canada Dock, Canada Pond, Quebec Pond, Centre Pond, Commercial Basin, Grand Surrey Canal.

1895-1904 Greenland Dock was greatly enlarged by John Wolfe-Barry, approximately doubling in length and depth.

The docks were badly damaged by bombing in WW2, but it was the containerisation of international freight transport that brought the end of these docks - they were too small for the size of those ships.

Largely drained and filled in, the area was redeveloped during the 1980s and 90s and renamed Surrey Quays.

2025: A Short History of the Surrey Commercial Docks, 1999, by Stuart Rankin looks to be a good source.

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This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Surrey Docks

Commemorated ati

Hydraulic lock gate engine

Hydraulic Lock Gate Engine This machinery was installed in 1902, at the time ...

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Hydraulic sluice

Hydraulic Sluice The sluice gate inside this pit was raised and lowered using...

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Lock Keepers Office

Lock Keepers Office The crews of men who worked ships in and out of Greenland...

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Norway cut swing bridge

Norway cut swing bridge This footbridge, with its granite paving, formerly st...

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Surrey Commercial Docks - relief model

{Around the rim:} London Docklands 1989 Surrey Commercial Docks 1896 Designe...

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Show all 10

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City of London Coal Exchange

City of London Coal Exchange

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W. D. Lambert

W. D. Lambert

Works director of the Brilliant Sign Company in 1938.

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1 memorial
George Down

George Down

Private George Arthur Down was born on 8 June 1884 in Putney. He was the eldest of the six children of William Down (1859-1943) and Emily Elizabeth Down née Hunter (1859-1947). His father was a boo...

Person, Armed Forces, Commerce, France

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J. D. Wetherspoon

J. D. Wetherspoon

Chain of bars, public houses and hotels founded by Tim Martin. 

Group, Commerce, Food & Drink

2 memorials
Sydney Simmons

Sydney Simmons

From Parish of Frien Barnet: "... born in Okehampton, Devon ... made a fortune from a patent carpet cleaning process. By 1891, Sydney and his wife Annie were living in Friern Barnet at their house ...

Person, Benefactor, Commerce, Philanthropy

2 memorials

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Kate Greenaway - NW3

Kate Greenaway - NW3

NW3, Frognal, 39

This charming and unusual plaque, placed uncommonly low on the house and doing its best to hide amongst the roses, is not as well-known a...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
John Flynn

John Flynn

Flight Officer, 71 Eagle Squadron, American, killed.

Person, USA

War dead, WW2
1 memorial
Lucy Holland

Lucy Holland

Daughter of Jane.

Person, Tragedy

1 memorial
Belgian Volunteers - WW2

Belgian Volunteers - WW2

SW1, Eaton Square, 103, Belgian Embassy Commercial Section

The plaque is by the Belgrave Place entrance to the building.

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Paul Head

Paul Head

Paul Andrew Charles Head. He was the son of Charles R. Head (b.1933) and Mary I. Head née Lamonby (b.1933) and his birth was registered in the Newbury, Berkshire, registration district. In Octobe...

Person, Community / Clubs, Politics & Administration

1 memorial