New Port, New City 1945 - Present
The post war period saw the fortunes of the docks rise and fall almost as if they were linked to the tides of the Thames.
The first section of the gallery is devoted to the recovery of the Docks after the ravages of the Second World War. The Docks were fully rebuilt by 1955 and this impressive achievement is reflected in the imposing, optimistic photographs and plans on display.
The 1960s saw the birth of London as a centre of cool and the docks were not immune to this. The swinging sixties are represented in the gallery through iconic photographs of the Beatles in the London docks and the chance to learn about, and listen to, the pirate radio stations that operated from offshore vessels. However, by the 1970s the docks were under threat. The decade saw the majority of them forced into closure. The despairing decline of the area is illustrated through evocative black white photography. These images perfectly capture the catastrophic change in fortunes the area suffered.
The last section of the gallery examines the renewal of docklands from the perspective of communities and developers alike. The Canary Wharf development and Docklands Light Railway both feature with uniforms, posters, models and ephemera enriching the story of the massive redevelopment.
During this period community groups fought hard to establish a ‘fair deal’ for local residents, both campaigning against, and working with the London Docklands Development Corporation (LDDC) and developers. Under funded, understaffed and fighting the government and developers their struggle was an integral and fascinating influence on the Docklands renewal captured here through original protest artwork (right) and filmed interviews.
The development of Docklands over the past 200 years has mirrored the shifting patterns of British trade and economy. Where ocean-going ships once tied up, bringing people and products from all over the world to London (and visa versa), multinational corporations now work. They bring the world’s trade and people to Docklands in a different way and continue to contribute to Docklands, new port, new city. Some of the themes examined in this gallery are covered in more detail on the regeneration theme page.