In Medieval times, the Isle of Dogs was known as Stepney Marsh and in the 13th Century was drained to support meadows and pastures as well as cornfield.
The name Isle of Dogs supposedly came about because there were royal kennels in the area.
In the late 1500's, the Port of London was alive with activity, trade was expanding and Docklands became a point of departure for merchant ventures - in 1620 the Mayflower set sail from Rotherhithe to America.
In 1802 the West India Docks opened and were considered to be the country's greatest civil engineering structure of its day.
West India Docks by William Danielle 1805.
The great stretch of docks from St. Katharine's by the Tower of London, past Surrey Commercial Docks, through the East and West Indies and the Royal Docks to Barking was the world's largest port. These docks grew and developed over 200 years.
Growth was particularly fast in the 19th Century. It was an area which enjoyed a unique lifestyle based on the growth and prosperity of traditional port activities including ship repair, heavy engineering, food processing, warehousing and distribution. Industries grew up based on the import of raw materials such as tobacco, timber and animal skins.
In July 1921 the King George V Dock in the Royal Docks was opened by the King.
Royal Docks in the early 1900's
By the 1930's the Port of London carried 35 million tons of cargo, worth approximately £700m carried by 55,000 ship movements and served by more than 10,000 lighters.
100,000 dockers and ancillary workers were dependent on the Port of London Authority (PLA) for employment, of whom over 30,000 were actually employed by the PLA itself.
Mass bombings of Docklands begin during the Second World War - including Black Saturday, 7th September: 430 dead, 1,600 seriously injured, 10,000 homeless
Fruit reefer boats in the late 1940's
1961 saw the peak year for the docks when over 60 million tons of cargo was handled.
Canary Wharf
West India Docks in the late 1960's
Until the mid 1960's, Canary Wharf was a cargo warehouse at the centre of West India Docks at the heart of Docklands. With the exception of the buildings at West India Quay all the original warehouses on the Isle of Dogs have been removed.
New technology and containerisation meant that London Docklands couldn't keep up with its competitors and by the early 1970's most of the docks had closed - West India Dock closed in 1980.
In 1971 the PLA employed 6,000 people and only 3,000 by 1981.
Between 1966 and 1976 the five London Docklands boroughs lost 150,000 jobs. This represented 20% of all jobs in the area. This can be compared to 2% for the whole of Great Britain.
The Port of London Authority closed the East India Dock in 1967 and St. Katharine and London Docks in 1968.
During the 1970's there was massive disinvestment in Docklands as businesses closed or moved away with the progressive closure of the dock system.
Between 1978 and 1980 the PLA closed the West India and Millwall Docks.
The London Docklands Development Corporation was created by the local Government Planning and Land Act 1980. It's job was to secure regeneration by:
Bringing land and buildings into use
Encouraging industry and commerce
Creating an attractive environment
Assisting in the provision of housing and social facilities to encourage people to live and work in the area.
The PLA close the Royal Docks.
Speaking of the plight of London Docklands in 1981, the Environment Secretary Michael Heseltine said
"The area displays more acutely and extensively than any area in England the physical decline of the urban city and the need for urban regeneration. IT represents a major opportunity for the development that London needs over the last twenty years of the 20th Century: new housing, new environments, new industrial developments, new architecture - all calculated to bring these barren areas back into more valuable use."
London Docklands stretches 8 miles eastwards from Tower Bridge.
The Isle of Dogs becomes an Enterprise Zone which offered tax allowances to both investors and developers. The enterprise zone designation had a 10 year life cycle.
G Ware Travelstead proposed building a 10 million sq. ft office complex on Canary Wharf. G Ware Travelstead was unable to fund his scheme and it was taken over by North American developers Olympia & York.
Following detailed negotiations with Olympia & York Canary Wharf Ltd., the Private Bill for the extension to Bank on the Docklands Light Railway was deposited, receiving Royal Assent in Nov. 1986. The extension opened in 1991.
Docklands Light Railway opened. London City Airport opened. Canary Wharf contract signed. The Newham Compact signed. Daily Telegraph and Guardian move from Fleet Street to the Isle of Dogs.
Canary Wharf - mid 1987
DLR - Canary Wharf Station
The master building agreement was signed between Olympia & York and the LDDC for a 12.2 million sq. ft. development at Canary Wharf.
London City Airport opened for business.
Docklands Light Railway starts running, Britain's first ever automated light rail transit system.
Construction begins at Canary Wharf.
'The Tower' - One Canada Square
Nov 1990
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The steel pyramid is placed on One Canada Square.
First tenants move to Canary Wharf (State Street).
Telegraph Group Ltd move into One Canada Square.
Design for the entrance to Canary Wharf Station, Jubilee Line
Olympia & York Canary Wharf Ltd. goes into Administration.
The Limehouse Link connecting The Highway
Working population 7,000
Olympia & York Canary Wharf Ltd exits from Administration, renamed Canary Wharf Ltd (now Canary Wharf Group plc)
15 shops and restaurants
Jubilee Line Extension construction starts at Canary Wharf
Docklands Light Railway extension to Beckton opens. Docklands Business Club celebrates its 10th Anniversary. HMY Britannia visits West India Dock. LDDC selects developer for new international exhibition centre on the north side of Royal Victoria Dock.
27 Shops, Restaurants & Health Club open
Working population 8,000.
Corney & Barrow opens
27 shops and restaurants
EMEA (The European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products) announces move to Canary Wharf
London Underground Ltd. starts relocation to 30 The South Colonnade
Daily Telegraph takes more space at One Canada Square.
Working Population 10,200.
Five more retail openings including Cafe Rouge
Citymax moves to 3 Cabot Square
Light Railway evening service commences
Credit Suisse moves to 5 Cabot Square.
Working population 12,800+
TheIndependent/
Independent on Sunday move to One Canada Square
EMEA inaugurated at 7 Westferry Circus.
Personal Investment Authority moves to One Canada Square
Tesco Metro opens
Morgan Stanley leases additional 350,000 sq ft at 20 Cabot Square.
BZW leases 510,000 sq ft at 5 The North Colonnade.
Live TV starts broadcasting from Canary Wharf
Docklands Light Railways weekend service commences.
EFPIA leases space at One Canada Square
42 shops and restaurants.
Mirror Group leases additional space at One Canada Square.
Canary Wharf is 75% leased
Trade Indemnity Group PLC leases 70,000 sq ft at One Canada Square.
Sale of Canary Wharf to International consortium completed. Principal investors: Paul Reichmann; CNA Financial Corporation (83% owned by Loews Corporation); Franklin Mutual Series Fund; Affiliates of Republic New York Corporation; HRH Prince Al Waleed bin Talal bin Abdulaziz al Saud
Working population 13,400
Artists impression of Canary Riverside
BZW leases a further 186,741 sq ft
Trade Indemnity moves to Canary Wharf
Readers Digest announces move to Canary Wharf
Canary Wharf Ltd. and Hotel Properties Ltd. announce the development of Canary Riverside at Canary Wharf.
Citibank announces Canary Wharf is the preferred site for its corporate front office.
Working population 14,000.
Bank of China International, Coutts & Co and Agence du Medicament announce move to Canary Wharf
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom announces its move to Canary Wharf.
Citibank signs deal for 560,000 sq ft new building to be constructed.
Working population 15,126.
Canary Wharf 1997
Knight Frank appointed as joint leasing agents with Richard Ellis
Groundbreaking for 560,000 sq ft Citibank building. Hotel Properties Ltd., Pidemco Land Ltd. and Canary Wharf Ltd. sign joint venture agreement to develop Canary Riverside.
Burlington Resources announce move to Canary Wharf.
Reader's Digest Association move to 11 Westferry Circus.
Working population 19,000
Construction commenced on Phase 1 (750,000 sq ft) of Canary Riverside, a residential, hotel and leisure development,
Canary Wharf existing buildings 82% let.
Singer & Friedlander Capital Markets leases space in the tower.
Marco Pierre White opens a restaurant at Canary Wharf
Credit Suisse First Boston announces that construction will start on a 275,000 sq ft building that will adjoin their existing 540,000 sq ft premises at Cabot Square
FSA, the new regulator for the financial services industry, announces its move to 25 The North Colonnade (363,000 sq ft) in 1998.
Working population 21,000 +
LDDC completes its regeneration remit and closes.
Bank of Montreal, Edward Jones and EDS announce moves to Canary Wharf.
HSBC announce move to 1.1 million sq ft head office to be constructed.
Topping out of Citibank building
Construction of 17 Columbus Courtyard begins on a speculative basis.
Credit Suisse First Boston leases 190,000 sq ft building, 17 Columbus Courtyard.
Bank of New York leases over 100,000 sq ft in One Canada Square.
Working population 23,000
Gap opens in Cabot Place East - Canary Wharf has over 70 shops and restaurants
Canary Wharf existing buildings are 99% let.
HSBC Holdings plc finalised contract for a 1.1 million sq.ft headquarters building.
Construction begins on a 175,000 sq.ft speculative building at 15 Westferry Circus.
Working population 25,000.
Canary Wharf existing buildings are 99.5% let
Construction begins on a 1.1 million sq.ft. headquarters building for HSBC.
Boots become the first retailer to sign for the new Canada Place shopping mall at Canary Wharf.
Canary Wharf announces its intention to float.
Citigroup leases a further 600,000 sq.ft. at Canary Wharf.
Canary Wharf floats on the London Stock Exchange.
Eats Food Court opens at Canary Wharf.
90 shops and restaurants.
Canary Wharf's Jubilee Line station opens on 24th September.
Canary Wharf Group plc announces acquisition of Texaco's Westferry Circus office building.
Docklands Light Railway extension to Lewisham opens.
Canary Wharf Group acquires Citigroup's 560,000 sq.ft. headquarters at Canary Wharf.
Jubilee Line Extension opens through to Green Park, completing its through route from Stanmore to Stratford.
Working population 27,000.
KPMG leases 38th floor of One Canada Square
Citigroup leases 315,000 sq.ft. in 25 Canada Square.
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter leases 15 Westferry Circus (175,000 sq.ft.)
Bank of New York and Bear Stearns take additional floors in One Canada Square.
Canary Wharf Group announces it will construct a new 500,000 sq.ft. speculative office building and a 180,000 sq.ft. retail and leisure building at Canada Square.
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter leases the 50th floor of One Canada Square, bringing the total occupation of existing space at Canary Wharf to 100%.
Canary Wharf Group wins £85 million contract for HSBC fit-out.
Canada Place retail mall opened on 28th March 100% pre-let.
Citigroup leases the remaining 287,000 sq.ft. in 25 Canada Square.
Terms agreed with Clifford Chance to lease 700,000 sq.ft. in a new 1,000,000 sq.ft. tower.
The Rt Hon Gordon Brown MP, Chancellor of the Exchequer, unveils masterplan for the next phase of development.
Working population 30,600
The Northern Trust Company agrees subject to contract, to lease approximately 135,000 sq.ft. in HQ4b on Canary Wharf South.
Waitrose Ltd sign lease for an 80,000 sq.ft. Waitrose Food & Home store.
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter agrees outline terms for a lease of 500,000 sq.ft in HQ1 on Canary Wharf South.
The McGraw-Hill Companies signs letter of agreement to secure the majority of 500,000 sq.ft. building on site known as DS4.
Canary Wharf regains control of the two hectare site at Phase 2 & 3 of Canary Riverside for further development and transfers its interest in Phase 1 to Pidemco Land Ltd.
Clifford Chance exchanges contracts to lease 785,00 sq.ft. on building parcel HQ5.
Credit Suisse First Boston agrees heads of terms to lease the 500,000 sq.ft. speculative building at 5 Canada Square. This brings the company's space at Canary Wharf to approximately 1.8 million sq.ft.
Canary Wharf Group exchanges contracts to purchase the 6.7 acre area of land known as Shed 35.
The Northern Trust Company exchanges contracts to lease approximately 135,000 sq.ft. in a new 210,000 sq.ft. building known as HQ4.
Working Population 35,000.
Construction commences on a new 85,000 sq.ft. retail mall, Jubilee Place, due for completion in 2003.
Unicorn Day Nursery expands its operations with the opening of an emergency Childcare Centre at 2 Westferry Circus.
The McGraw-Hill Companies exchanges contracts to lease over 300,000 sq.ft. in a new 500,000 sq.ft. building at 20 Canada Square.
Credit Suisse First Boston concludes transaction on 500,000 sq.ft. at 5 Canada Square.
Lehman Brothers agrees terms to lease 1 million sq.ft. on parcel HQ2.
HSBC and Citigroup towers
Topping out of Citigroup and HSBC towers in Canada Square as the last piece of structural steel is lifted into place.
Clifford Chance take up option to lease a further 215,000 sq ft at 10 Upper Bank Street (HQ5).
Northern Trust Company take up option to lease a further 18,000 sq ft at 50 Bank Street (HQ4).
EMEA take up option to lease a further 15,000 sq ft at 7 Westferry Circus.
Waitrose has leased an additional 20,000 sq ft taking its new Food & Home store up to a total of 100,000 sq ft.
Allen & Overy sign an agreement fo lease for approximately 78,000 sq ft at 40 Bank Street.
Marks & Spencer sign a lease agreement for a 12,000 sq ft 'Neighbourhood Food Store' in the new Jubilee Place Shopping Mall as its flagship tenant.
The first fifteen new retailers are announced as having signedfor Jubilee place mall due for completion in Autumn 2003, this includes a new Marks & Spencer Neighbourhood Food Store. All units are now exchanged or subject to agreement. The mall will comprise 40 retail units and will cover 89,500 sq ft.
A further 11 new retailers are announced as having signed for the take up of units in the Jubilee Place Retail Mall. The mall will cover 89,500 sq ft and will bring the total retail space at Canary Wharf up to 625,000 sq ft, spread over more than 200 outlets.
The 1m sq ft Lehman Brothers building, located at 25 Bank Street, is topped out.
Conran Holdings exchanges contracts to occupy space at 16 - 19 Canada Square. Conran will lease 9,040 sq ft at the top of the 5-storey building which also includes Waitrose Food & Home store and Reebok Sports Club London. Work is expected to commence in the first quarter of 2003.
The first Green Canary Day is held to promote environmental awareness in the workplace. This new initiative, set up by Canary Wharf Group, is a free event featuring a series of displays and exhibition stands.