Marsh Wall and South Quay: – The London Docklands Development Corporation (LDDC) had been set up in 1981 and by 1990 when I made these pictures a great deal of work had been done and was continuing at a huge rate.
It’s work was highly controversial at the time, largely because it took power away from local councils and developed the area largely around the needs of business rather than people. Although it eventually brought in many new jobs (though displacing some older jobs) and provided a considerable amount of housing in the area, many thought that there should have been far more social housing and better treatment of the existing residents in the area.
The Docklands Light Railway was one of the LDDC’s most successful interventions in the Isle of Dogs and first opened in 1987, running from both Tower Gateway on the edge of the City and Stratford to a station in Cubitt Town, Island Gardens. At first it was derided as a ‘Toytown Train’, but the system ended the transport isolation of the Isle of Dogs, previously accessible by slow bus routes from Poplar and a foot tunnel from Greenwich – and in later years has been much extended.
Few of the jobs in the new offices were for residents of the area, and the early employment opportunities for them are perhaps represented by the sign for ‘Ernes Snack Bar’ under the Give Way sign.
More offices photographed from underneath the DLR viaduct.
There are now a large number of sculptures in the area around Canary Wharf but back in 1990 they were few and far between. I don’t think this piece lasted very long at this location, but I’ve failed to find what happened to it.
The Waterfront – at top left – was a Fullers pub at 187 Marsh Wall-South Quay Plaza. I think it became or was replaced at that address by Astons Champagne & Wine Bar as the area moved more upmarket. This closed in 2015.
There were still odd bits of the old docks around such as this, which I think may have been in the Millwall Cutting.
The Lothbury Building with offices from 6,000-71,000 SQ FT advertised at 191 Marsh Wall, overlooking South Dock. It became the main headquarters for the LDDC in 1990.
Some architectural building in a style common in the early days of the LDDC. Many of the buildings in this area have been replaced since 1990 making it difficult to find the exact locations of my pictures. The IRA bombing in 1996 prompted some changes but few of the buildings would in any case have lasted. They have been replaced by taller blocks with greater floor space and more modern services.
Building work on the north side of South Dock.
And the same buildings seen from a little further east past a ship moored on the south bank of South Dock.
More from the Isle of Dogs in 1990 later.
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