Museum of London Docklands

Museum of London Docklands
Former name Museum in Docklands
Established 2003 (2003)
Location West India Docks
Canary Wharf
London, E14
United Kingdom
Director Sharon Ament
Public transit access London Underground Canary Wharf
Docklands Light Railway Westferry; West India Quay
Website Official website

The Museum of London Docklands (formerly known as Museum in Docklands) is a museum on the Isle of Dogs, East London that tells the history of London's River Thames and the growth of Docklands. The museum is part of the Museum of London jointly funded by the City of London Corporation and the Greater London Authority.

The museum opened in 2003 in grade I listed early-19th century Georgian "low" sugar warehouses built in 1802 on the side of West India Docks on the Isle of Dogs, a short walk from the Canary Wharf development.[1][2]

Collections and exhibits

Lots of the museum's collection is from the museum and archives of the Port of London Authority, which became part of the port and river collections of the Museum of London in the 1970s. These were put into storage by the Museum of London in 1985.[3] The museum includes videos presented by Tony Robinson, and it houses a large collection of historical artifacts, models, and pictures in 12 galleries and a children's gallery (Mudlarks), arranged over two floors. Visitors are directed through the displays in chronological order.[2] The periods covered range from the first port on the Thames in Roman times to the closure of the central London docks in the 1970s and subsequent transformation of the area with commercial and residential developments.[4][5] The Museum of London Docklands has a lecture theatre and meeting rooms and hosts talks and events connected with the docks. Several workers who worked on the docks in the 1960s take part in these events, including one from the Pentonville Five. The reading room and Sainsbury's Study Centre house the archives.

In 2007, the museum celebrated the bicentenary of the British abolition of slavery by opening a £14 million Heritage Lottery Funded exhibition entitled London, Sugar, Slavery about the practice.[6][7] In March 2016, the museum opened an exhibit relating to the building itself. The building was originally called No.1 Warehouse, and was built in 1802 during the expansion of West India Docks.[8] In September, the museum displayed Dick Moore's George Cross medal for bravery during the London Blitz.[9] In 2017, the museum is aiming to open an exhibit displaying archaeological findings found during Crossrail work.[10]

West India Quay with the museum in the background.
The Museum of London Docklands at night

Transport connections

Service Station/Stop Lines/Routes served Distance from
Museum of London Docklands
London Buses London Buses Westferry Station 135, 277, D3, D7
London Underground London Underground Canary Wharf Jubilee line 800 metres walk
Docklands Light Railway Docklands Light Railway West India Quay 2 minute/400 metres walk[11]
London River Services Canary Wharf Pier Commuter Service
Rotherhithe to Canary Wharf Service 		650 metres walk

See also

References

  1. ↑ Sara Wajid (9 November 2007). "London, Sugar & Slavery Opens At Museum In Docklands". Culture24.org. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
  2. 1 2 Emma Midgley (23 May 2003). "MGM 2003 - A Capital Addition, Museum In Docklands Now Open". Culture24.org. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
  3. ↑ Foster, J.; Sheppard, J. (30 April 2016). British Archives: A Guide to Archive Resources in the UK. Springer. p. 400. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
  4. ↑ "Museum of London - Thames Highway". museumoflondon.org.uk.
  5. ↑ Hawthorne, Kate; Sheppard, Daniella (29 September 2016). The Young Person's Guide to the Internet: The Essential Website Reference Book for Young People, Parents and Teachers. Taylor & Francis. p. 130. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
  6. ↑ Eckersley, Susannah; Lloyd, Katherine; Whitehead, Christopher; Mason, Rhiannon (May 2015). Museums, Migration and Identity in Europe: Peoples, Places and Identities. Ashgate Publishing. p. 74. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
  7. ↑ Tolia-Kelly, Divya; Waterton, Emma; Waterton, Emma; Watson, Steve (July 2016). Heritage, Affect and Emotion: Politics, Practices and Infrastructures. Routledge. p. 125. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
  8. ↑ Broadbent, Giles (11 March 2016). "Museum of London Docklands to open a new storehouse of history". The Wharf. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
  9. ↑ Broadbent, Giles (29 September 2016). "Family's pride as museum tells of their hero's courage". The Wharf. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
  10. ↑ Drury, James (22 September 2016). "Largest Collection Of Crossrail Treasures To Go On Display". Londonist. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
  11. ↑ Museum of London Docklands: Getting there

Coordinates: 51°30′27″N 0°1′25″W / 51.50750°N 0.02361°W / 51.50750; -0.02361

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