The London Docklands were once the busiest docks in the world. Goods came into the docks from all over the world. The Docks have a long history starting when Elizabeth I gave a charter to the East India Company in 1600. There were two wet docks by the end of the Eighteenth Century.(Pudney) The Docklands has a distinct history as a result of its isolation from the rest of London. The story of the Docklands is intriguing, for "there was no aspect of the port that was not inefficient, exorbitant or corrupt,"(Pudney,18).

The docks have closed for two primary reasons. The first is due technological changes. The docks were originally designed for sail ships. This caused a problem in the 1820's when ships were steam driven,(Pudney). The crisis in the early 1900's led to the creation of the Port of London Authority to deal with the changing needs. In 1908 the Port of London Act meant that "private companies had been bought out to form a public enterprise,"(Pudney,147). This was "regarded by many as a dangerous step toward socialism,"(Ibid.147).

The change to containerization in recent history is similar to the change from sail to steam. Containerization is cheaper than port handling and containerized docks have taken the place of the London Docks. Larger ships are being used, thus the older smaller docks do not have the access the larger ships require.

The second reason for the closing of the docks is bureaucratic. There was never proper organization in the running of the docks. Workers reported every morning to the docks where some were randomly chosen to work and the rest were sent home. Until 1960's the laborers could be hired by the hour. "It became traditional, part of the way of life, accepted by generations of dockers," who viewed this as a sort of liberating freedom(Pudney,110). Because the docks were so disorganized and geographically dispersed, worker unification seemed unlikely, (Ibid.106). However, unions did form and had great power at times.

Stealing was a great concern in the docks. Huge amounts of merchandise disappeared routinely. In 1798 a police force was set up just for the docks. Every worker was searched before leaving work each day to be sure there was no stealing,(Ibid.12). A high wall was built around the docks in an effort to reduce stealing. These walls "have created emotional and social barriers but they have also cherished powerful working and community loyalties,"(Ibid.12). Portions of the wall are standing today.