London from the Air Gallery

London Docks 1958 EAW071687

LONDON DOCKS, Southwark. Aerial photograph of Greenland Dock, Rotherhithe in June 1958. Also showing South Dock, the River Thames and the entrance to the Millwall Outer Dock (on the Isle of Dogs). Freighters are unloading into barges and butties. The dock was mostly used for Baltic shipping, notably whaling and timber. Greenland Dock is the oldest of London's riverside docks, originally laid out in 1695 to refit East Indiamen. The commercial docks closed in 1970, and the warehouses have now been replaced by Docklands residential developments (Swedish Quay, Baltic Quay and Brunswick Quay). Aerofilms Collection (see Links)

© Historic England Archive

Thames Barrier, London 24994_024

THAMES BARRIER, Woolwich Reach, London. Aerial view. A flood control structure built between 1974 and 1984 to help protect London from flooding. Downstream of the capital the barrier is intended to control tidal and storm surges coming up the river. Photographed in May 2008

© Historic England

Aerial, Defence, Environmental, Modern, River, Tide, Water

River Thames 21760_09

RIVER THAMES, London. Aerial view. The River Thames has always been of major importance to the City of London. It provided water (of varying quality), and a means of transportation and communication. The first bridge across the river was built by the Romans shortly after the invasion of AD43. This picture shows a series of bridges between Tower Bridge and Blackfriars Bridge. Between London Bridge and Tower Bridge is the cruiser HMS Belfast. In the distance are the towers of Canary Wharf

© Historic England