Traditionally ships had docked at wharves on the River Thames, but by the start of the 19th century, more capacity was needed. Also see Port of London.
1799-1815 The London Docks were constructed in Wapping downstream of the City of London at a cost exceeding £5.5 million. They were the closest docks to the City of London, until St. Katharine's Dock was built two decades later.
1805 The London Dock itself was opened. The Company had a twenty-one years monopoly to receive all vessels entering the Port with tobacco, rice, wine and brandy (except from the East and West Indies).
1826 Henry Robinson Palmer was appointed resident engineer. Over the next nine years, he designed and executed the Eastern Dock, with the associated warehousing, entrance locks, bridges, and other works.
The London Docks occupied a total area of about 30 acres, consisting of Western and Eastern docks linked by the short Tobacco Dock. The Western Dock was connected to the Thames by Hermitage Basin to the south west and Wapping Basin to the south. The Eastern Dock connected to the Thames via the Shadwell Basin to the east.
The docks specialised in high-value luxury commodities such as ivory, spices, coffee and cocoa as well as wine and wool, for which elegant warehouses and wine cellars were constructed.
1864 The London, St. Katharine and Victoria Docks were amalgamated as London and St. Katharine Docks Co.