Greenland Dock's Transformation Over Time

Greenland Dock has undergone significant transformations over the years. The dock's original purpose was as a Royal Navy victualling yard, established in 1875.

The dock's transformation into a commercial and residential area began in the late 19th century. A large number of warehouses were built along the dock's perimeter, including the iconic Greenland Dock Warehouse.

In the early 20th century, the dock's warehouses were converted into a variety of uses, including offices and residential spaces. This marked a significant shift in the dock's function and character.

Greenland Dock was a major hub for the whaling and timber trades in the 18th and 19th centuries. The dock was sold to William Richie, a Greenwich timber merchant, in 1806, who founded the Commercial Dock Company the following year.

Richie's company built additional docks and timber ponds to the north, and the dock became a central part of London's timber trade. By 1865, the company had merged with the Surrey Docks to control around 80% of London's timber trade.

The dock was lined with warehouses and massive piles of construction timber, known as "deal wood", which were maintained by athletic porters.

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Greenland Dock was a hub for whaling and timber trades from the 1720s. The dock was used by Greenland whalers, who built substantial blubber boiling houses to produce oil on the south side.

The fourth Duke of Bedford sold Howland Great Wet Dock in 1763, and it was promptly renamed Greenland Dock due to extensive usage by Greenland whaling ships. This trade declined sharply by the start of the 19th century.

In 1806, the dock was sold to William Richie, a Greenwich timber merchant who founded the Commercial Dock Company in 1807. The company built additional docks and timber ponds, leading to a jumble of harbours, canals, and timber ponds.

Much of the timber arriving at Greenland Dock came from the Baltic region, initially aboard small sailing vessels. These vessels were eventually displaced by large steamers, which became the primary means of transporting timber.

Greenland Dock remained a center of London's timber trade for over a century, lined with warehouses and immense piles of construction timber or "deal wood". These piles were maintained by athletic deal porters, who worked tirelessly to keep the timber organized.

The Surrey Commercial Docks Company was a significant player in the industry, with a notable presence on the Thames.

The company's Greenland Dock underwent significant changes between 1894 and 1914, with the dock expanding from a short opening to a much longer one.

In 1894, the Grand Surrey Canal ran past the end of the dock, but by 1914, it had passed across the middle of the dock. A cut was established to connect Greenland Dock with Canada Dock.

The company invested in hydraulic machinery to operate lock gates after the 1865 expansion and improvements to Greenland Dock.

This innovative machinery allowed for more efficient and precise control over the lock gates, which was a crucial aspect of the dock's operations.

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The Surrey Docks remained derelict for over a decade, with much of the warehousing demolished and over 90% of the docks filled in.

In 1981, Greenland Dock was handed over to the London Docklands Development Corporation, which marked the beginning of its redevelopment. This decision allowed for the preservation of the dock and its transformation into a thriving residential area.

Seven residential developments were constructed on the site of the former warehouse complexes, named after their original purposes. These developments include the Greenland Passage and the gated New Caledonian Wharf.

The dock still has a working connection to South Dock, which is now a marina, and it has a small marina of its own at its eastern end.

Greenland Dock, built in 1695-99, is the oldest of London's riverside wet docks.

Open water swimming sessions are now available for adults only, and you must be a competent swimmer to take part.

These sessions cost £9 and are available on Tuesday afternoons from 4.30pm to 6.30pm and on Friday mornings from 7am to 9am.

You'll need to complete a 15-minute competency swim test before being let loose in the main dock.

The meeting point is at the Surrey Docks Fitness and Watersports Centre, on the south side of the dock.

It's a short walk from Surrey Quays station on the London Overground or Canada Water on the Jubilee line.

Sessions will run until the end of October, and the council is looking at re-introducing them next year.

You'll be swimming in the dark on the last Tuesday session on 29th October, after the clocks go back.

Between 1895 and 1904, Greenland Dock was greatly extended to the west at a cost of £940,000. This expansion was carried out under Sir John Wolfe Barry, the engineer who built Tower Bridge.

The dock more than doubled in length and nearly doubled in depth, covering an area of 22+1⁄2 acres (9.1 ha) with a depth of 31 feet (9.4 m) and a length of 2,250 feet (690 m).

This renovation enabled the dock to take large cargo ships and even ocean-going liners. Cunard Line A-class vessels of as much as 14,000 long tons (14,000 t) sailed regularly from Greenland Dock to the St. Lawrence River in Canada.

In 1909, the dock was amalgamated into the Port of London under the management of the Port of London Authority. This marked the beginning of a new era for the dock.

Greenland Dock suffered greatly during World War II, when many of the warehouses were razed by German bombing and the great lock was rendered unusable due to bomb damage.

The deal porters' jobs were abolished from 1958 when timber started to be packaged. This was a significant blow to the dock's workforce.

In 1970, the Surrey Commercial Docks were closed, and Greenland Dock was sold to Southwark council. This marked the end of an era for the dock.

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The Surrey Docks remained derelict for over a decade, with much of the warehousing demolished and over 90% of the docks filled in.

Greenland Dock, which belonged to the local authority, escaped this fate and was handed over to the London Docklands Development Corporation in 1981.

The Inner London Education Authority ran a Surrey Docks Watersports Centre on the dock from portable cabins at the Redriff Road end of the dock, training many young people in sailing and canoeing.

A masterplan was produced to transform the dock into a residential area, which was implemented in the late 1980s despite controversy.

Seven residential developments were constructed on the site of former warehouse complexes, named after them, such as Swedish Quay, Brunswick Quay, and Baltic Quay.

Today, the area is dominated by luxury residential developments, including Greenland Passage and the gated New Caledonian Wharf.

A new watersports centre was constructed on the site of the former entrance to the infilled Grand Surrey Canal, maintaining the dock as a popular site for sailing, windsurfing, and canoeing.

The dock still has a working connection to South Dock, now a marina, and a small marina of its own at its eastern end.

Many of the old capstans and hydraulic machines on the quayside have been preserved, offering a glimpse into the dock's industrial past.

The alternative comedian Malcolm Hardee drowned in the dock in 2005 while stepping onto his houseboat, Sea Sovereign, from the floating pub he owned, the Wibbley Wobbley.