Wapping Dock History 

Active Period - 1834 to 1988

1834

Wapping Dock opens. It has been developed to link Georges, Salthouse, Canning, Albert, Dukes, Kings, Queens and Brunswick docks. Before, if a ship wanted to move between docks it had to take on ballast and a pilot, leave the dock, re-enter the river and then re-dock. This was expensive and took time.

Also, by building Wapping Dock the number of entrances throughout the linked docks is reduced. This provides extra quay space for loading and unloading.

When Wapping Dock is built a number of businesses have to move to make way. This leads to delays and compensation.

Most ships move through Wapping they do not stop. However, it is very popular with coastal traders and some deep-sea vessels from shallow South American and African ports.

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1855  

A warehouse is built at Wapping Dock with a railway running the length of the ground floor. It stores a range of cargoes.

1860s

Wapping Dock is dealing in some East Asian trade.

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1878

The railway in the warehouse at Wapping Dock is removed as it is hardly used. This is typical of Liverpool's trouble using railway in the dock system [image, new window].

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1905  

There are some site changes at Wapping Dock in connection with alterations to Kings and Queens docks [image, new window].

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1940

A large part of Wapping Dock is destroyed by German bombs during World War II.

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1960s

As the linked docks, e.g. Albert, Canning & Dukes, close or wind down so Wapping Dock becomes less busy.

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1972

Wapping Dock closes.

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1982

Wapping warehouse is still used as a bonded liquor store.

1988

Wapping Dock warehouse closes.

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