History and Heritage
The history of Wapping has been shaped by its location on the north bank of the Thames and the construction of the docks that began during the reign of Elizabeth I.
The history of Wapping has been shaped by its location on the north bank of the Thames and the construction of the docks that began during the reign of Elizabeth I.
The area was home to sailors, boatbuilders and all the trades that supported the maritime industries.
It was also the site of ‘Execution Dock’ where pirates and criminals were hung - their bodies left until they had been submerged three times by the tide.
Today it is noted for its centuries old riverside pubs and a new generation of creative industries and residents now inhabiting the former warehouses. By the Victorian Age the area was the most bustling and successful trade centre in the world and became the inspiration for a number of novels by Charles Dickens.
The buildings in the area, Metropolitan Wharf being the finest example,were built to represent the pride of a nation bringing the best the world had to offer to its shores.
