Engineering at SKD - The home of innovation
Exploring the engineering of the docks with original engineer
Thomas Telford and architect Philip Hardwick.
Engineering. 1 - In 2017, St. Katharine Docks underwent renovation, transforming into a lively waterfront community with 185 berths across three basins for vessels up to 40 meters long. The marina offers outstanding facilities and services, along with numerous exciting nautical events year-round. Island Global Yachting (IGY) Marinas has managed and operated the marina since February 2020.
Engineering. 2 - Philip Hardwick - (15 June 1792 in London – 28 December 1870) was an English architect renowned for his work on railway stations and warehouses in London and beyond. He is perhaps most famous for the demolished Euston Arch in London and the original Birmingham Curzon Street station, which remains the oldest railway terminus building in the world.
Engineering. 3 - On January 1st, 1985, the beloved comedian Ernie Wise, charmingly dressed in Dickensian attire, made a memorable entrance on a beautiful 19th-century Mail Coach at Marble Quay. He dialled the very first commercial mobile phone call to Sir Ernest Harrison at Vodafone headquarters in Newbury. While history hasn’t captured Ernie's exact words, what we do know is that for the first nine days of 1985, Vodafone proudly held the distinction of being the sole mobile network in the UK.
Engineering. 4 - St. Katharine Docks got its name from the former hospital of St. Katharine's by the Tower, which was built on the same site in the 12th century. In 1825, an Act of Parliament designated the 23-acre (9.5 hectares) area for redevelopment, and construction began in May 1827. As part of the redevelopment, about 1,250 houses and the medieval hospital of St. Katharine were demolished, displacing around 11,300 inhabitants, mostly port workers living in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions. This project was led by engineer Thomas Telford and marked his only major project in London. To maximise quayside space, the docks were designed as two linked basins (East and West), accessible via an entrance lock from the Thames.
Engineering. 5 - St. Katharine Docks faced significant challenges during World War II when the Luftwaffe targeted the area, destroying all the warehouses around the east basin. Thankfully, the dock entrance was rebuilt in 1957. However, commercial use of the docks ended in 1968, leaving much of the area abandoned. Soon after, the warehouses around the west basin were also torn down as plans for a new redevelopment took shape. This exciting redevelopment began in the 1970s, with the Tower Hotel being the first new building to welcome guests in 1973.
Engineering. 6 - In the 1970s and 1980s, St Katharine Docks in London underwent redevelopment into a marina, residential area, and office space. The warehouses were transformed into apartments and offices, while the basins were converted into a marina for yachts. Various architectural styles are evident, showcasing a blend of design eras throughout the docks; the mews street developments highlight the post-war brutalist style.
Engineering. 7 - Dickens Inn - Originally, the Dickens Inn stood just a bit to the east of where it is now. Back in the 1820s, its lovely timber frame was given a modern brick exterior to blend in with the architecture of St. Katharine Docks, masterminded by the famous Scottish Civil Engineer Thomas Telford. When the time came to make way for new housing, the entire 120-tonne structure was carefully moved 70 meters. They lovingly used the original timbers, tailboards, and ironwork in the restoration, recreating it as a stunning three-story balconied inn in true 18th-century style.
Engineering. 8 - This plate commemorates the opening of St Katharine Docks on Saturday, 25 October 1828. It depicts the 'Elizabeth' entering the docks on that inaugural day. Spanning over a million square feet, these docks were designed to store various goods, including tea, rubber, wool, marble, ivory, tallow, and tortoiseshell. However, they never achieved significant financial success and ultimately closed in 1968 after years of operating at a loss. Subsequently, they were sold by the Port of London Authority to the Greater London Council.
There’s more to discover across the docks at the locations marked.
Proudly Supporting the foundation of St. Katharines
St Katharine Docks is a proud sponsor of the Royal Foundation of St Katharine’s which supports the local community. If you can, please consider donating via the link below.
St Katharine Docks is proud to sponsor the Royal Foundation of St Katharine, which was based on this site for over 600 years and now is a community charity, retreat house and meeting and event space five minutes away in Limehouse. It hosts over 1500 meetings a year, mainly for charities and not-for-profits. The Foundation supports local communities through initiatives like food banks, lunch clubs, gardening projects, and arts groups, promoting well-being and mental health.