Museum of London Docklands
| Former name | Museum in Docklands |
|---|---|
| Established | 2003 |
| Location | West India Docks London, E14 United Kingdom |
| Director | Sharon Ament |
| Public transit access | |
| 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]
Contents
Collections and exhibits[edit]
The nucleus of the collection is 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 1976, but remained in storage until the museum opened.
The museum uses the latest presentational techniques including videos presented by Tony Robinson, known for his involvement with archaeological television programme Time Team. The museum houses a large collection of historical artefacts, 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[3] to the closure of the central London docks in the 1970s and subsequent transformation of the area with commercial and residential developments.
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.
Entry to the museum is free.[4]
Floor directory[edit]
The museum recommends visitors start their visit from floor 3
Transport connections[edit]
| Service | Station/Stop | Lines/Routes served | Distance from Museum of London Docklands |
|---|---|---|---|
| London Buses |
Westferry Station |
135, 277, D3, D7 | |
| London Underground |
Canary Wharf |
800 metres wal | |
| Docklands Light Railway |
West India Quay |
2 minute/400 metres walk[5] | |
| London River Services |
Canary Wharf Pier |
Commuter Service Rotherhithe to Canary Wharf Service |
650 metres walk |
See also[edit]
- Museum of London
- Museum of London Archaeology
- Island History Trust
- Culture of London
- Robert Milligan
References[edit]
- ^ Sara Wajid (9 November 2007). "London, Sugar & Slavery Opens At Museum In Docklands". Culture24.org. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
- ^ a b Emma Midgley (23 May 2003). "MGM 2003 - A Capital Addition, Museum In Docklands Now Open". Culture24.org. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
- ^ "Museum of London - Thames Highway". museumoflondon.org.uk.
- ^ Visit Museum of London Docklands accessed 20 April 2010[dead link]
- ^ Museum of London Docklands: Getting there
External links[edit]
- History of Tower Hamlets
- Warehouses in England
- Grade I listed warehouses
- Grade I listed museum buildings
- Grade I listed buildings in London
- Museums in Tower Hamlets
- Maritime museums in England
- Local museums in London
- Museum of London Group
- Port of London
- Transport museums in London
- Museums established in 2003
- 2003 establishments in England
- Commercial buildings in London