Timeline

South Dock Marina
&
surrounding area

1696

Howland Great Wet Dock

First enclosed dock built in UK

1720

Greenland Dock

From 1720, the dock was used Docks
more and more extensively as a
whaling station for boats working
in Greenland. This prompted
a change of name, from Howland
Dock to Greenland Dock

1806

By the early 19th century, the
whaling trade had declined
sharply. In 1806, Greenland
Dock was sold to a timber
merchant, William Richie.
Richie founded the
Commercial Dock Company
a year later and expanded
by building new docks and
timber ponds. One of these
was the neighbouring East
Country Dock, which was
later renamed South Dock.

1865

Surrey Commercial Docks

In 1865, the Commercial Dock
Company merged with the
neighbouring Surrey Docks to
form Surrey Commercial Docks
which controlled 80% of London’s
timber trade.