We set off promptly at nine o'clock from St Andrews Church and thanks to our driver Kevin of Banstead Coaches we reached the Docklands Museum in West India Dock with plenty of time to spare before our welcoming cup of coffee in the Rum & Sugar Bar and Kitchen.
After coffee we split in to two groups for a guided tour around the Museum. The Guide for the first group was David Mathews who enthralled us with his enthusiasm for and extensive knowledge of the history of the Dock Yards. It was not just the continuous stream of facts and figures but the insights into the darker, more dangerous side of the life of a Docker gained first hand from his father and brothers that kept us going well beyond the anticipated finish time for lunch. The warehouse that today is home to the Museum was when it was built, the largest brick built structure in the world, although sadly only a small amount is left today, the majority being lost to bombs in the Second World War.
The Docklands was an independent community on the edge of London, with all its own services including a well used hospital and mortuary. Accidents were common place and the passage way between the warehouse and the quayside was known as Blood Alley. Looking out from the third floor loading bay it was easy to see why many slipped over the edge on a frosty winter's morning. no safety ropes in those days!
Execution Dock a few miles downriver at Wapping was the final destination of the many River Pirates who plundered the ships along the Thames and the gibbet was used to display their bodies in the hope of deterring others.
Although I'm sure that etymologists would probably dispute some of David's derivation of Docklands inspired words I particularly liked his Wharf from warehouse at river front, and gossip from the habit of the ship underwriters sending their employees to go sip with potential clients in the nearby coffee houses. Unfortunately we ran out of time to see all the exhibits before stopping for an excellent fish and chips lunch in the Rum & Sugar Kitchen.
In the afternoon we had plenty time to explore the special Secret Rivers Exhibition, see parts of the Museum we missed on the first time around or take a trip to the financial centre of the world in nearby Canary Wharf.
Sadly the return journey was a little longer than in the morning due to queues through the Blackwall Tunnel and on the A2 but we arrived back well before six. A great day out and I shall make the effort to return to the museum to see all the bits I missed first time around sometime soon.
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