Canary Wharf The area around Canary Wharf has undergone some extraordinary changes in its history. Once marshland, it was reclaimed by trading companies to build secure docks. From these beginnings grew the Docklands, which during its heyday had as many as 50,000 people working there. Heavily bombed during the war, the area enjoyed a brief resurgence in the 1950s but, with containerization, the Docklands gradually fell into decline. By 1980 the docks were closed with the loss of thousands of jobs. Over the last twenty years, though, the area has re-established itself as a major financial centre to rival the City of London. The impressive skyline of Canary Wharf, visible for many miles, is now familiar to most Londoners and further development in the area is planned. Links
|
Watch the video to see Brian Grover of the Museum in Docklands recounting the history of the area and the museum itself. |