|
Renewal, refurbishment and huge change
Tucked away in the south-west
corner of Newham, somewhat isolated from the rest of the borough by the
Royal Docks, West Silvertown has a proud history
rooted in those great docks and the industry which came with
them. Today, though, the ships are long gone, and much of the industry
too, and the area is passing through a period of renewal, refurbishment
and huge change.
 Dotted
about the area are reminders of the past. Some of the the dockside cranes
have been carefully preserved; the great Millennium Mill, looking a bit
run down now, is scheduled for conversion soon to dwellings, and K Silo
which will have a central place in the proposed new Silvertown Quays development.
Even in the new Thames Barrier park there is the large Green Dock structure
which seeks to remind us of the docklands past. But overall now
West Silvertown has a very modern feel. Britannia Village, developed
over the last decade, was planned as the first part of an “urban
village”, a ground breaking concept which sought to break away from
conventional town planning trends. Now in the final stages of completion
with modern new houses and flats the Village overlooks the futuristic ExCel
development, a state of the art exhibition centre across the dock complete
with hotels and other related development. The two developments are linked
by a sleek new footbridge across the dock.
South of North Woolwich Road the riverside industrial
belt is slowly giving way to modern development. Beside the Thames
Barrier Park, itself built on what was once a petroleum and chemical works,
is the award winning housing development at Barrier Point while to the
east is the new Tradewinds development.
Top of Page
 Better
transport links
While perhaps the docks continue to give the area a feeling
of seclusion its transport links are getting better all the time.
The isolation of the area was already an issue between the wars leading
in 1934 to the opening of Silvertown Way, Britain's first flyover.
With the LDDC in the 1980s, came the Lower Lea Crossing and the widening
of North Woolwich Road, both part of a new strategic highways system to
open up the Docklands north of the River. And now the Docklands
Light Railway has just been extended through the area from Canning Town to
the City Airport - which offers flights to many of the major destinations
in Europe - and construction work is in progress to take the new railway across the River to Woolwich Arsenal. Just up the road
the long awaited scheme to upgrade the A13 all the way to the M25 is now complete. In the future there is the prospect that
Crossrail might one day serve the area and a decision is pending on the new DLR line to Stratford International Station on the Channel Tunnel Rail Link. A public inquiry is in progress about the new Thames Gateway Bridge to carry a new dual-carriageway road running from the A13/A406 junction at Beckton to the A206 in Thamesmead.
TOP
New communities
There are many new residents. In Britannia Village there
are more than a 1000 new homes with another 250 at Barrier Point and 250
in the new Tradewinds development. But many of the original residents
remain. There were 264 homes in the 60s tower blocks at Cranbrook
and Dunlop Points in Barnwood Court. Although those living there
voted for the demolition of these towers many were rehoused in the 300
low rise homes built in Britannia Village by the Peabody Trust and the
East Thames Housing Group. There were also 60 private homes in the
area most of which remain. This gives the village community a vital
balance which the Foundation aims to foster and develop. Already
there is a range of local community organisations
serving local residents some of which are supported by the Foundation
with money and other help. It is hoped the Britannia Village Hall will
provide a focal point for community activities.
Top of Page
Local facilities
At present these include the primary school and village
Hall, and the local shops and restaurant, in Britannia Village. And there
are two filling stations along North Woolwich Road. For recreation there
is the Village Green and nearby is Lyle Park and the Thames Barrier Park.
It is expected that the Silvertown Quays and other developments will provide
additional facilities.
In the wider area of the Royal Docks, notably in Beckton,
there is a good range of shops, services and facilities for residents.
These are but a short journey away - more information
Top of Page
More change to come...
The process of change, and the growth in the population,
is far from complete with many new
developments still to come. What would have been Phase 2
of the urban village has surfaced now as the proposed Silvertown Quays,
a massive mixed development around the Pontoon Dock with the new National
Aquarium at its core. To the south the Minoco Wharf and Peruvian
Wharf developments are on the agenda while to the north in the Lower Lea
Valley there is the prospect of the huge developments centred around the
2012 Olympic Games which cannot fail to have their impact
on West Silvertown.
Top of Page
Area Profile
Location
West Silvertown makes up the western part of the Royal
Docks ward of the London Borough of Newham which comprises the area
south of the Royal Docks stretching eastwards to embrace North Woolwich. The
area is in the E16 London Postal District.
Latitude: 51:30:15N (51.5041)
Longitude: 0:01:26E (0.0239)
OS Grid Ref:TQ405802
Visit these links for a map
of the area and
travel information.
Top of Page
Census Data
The 2001 Census results provide a good insight to the
people living in Royal Docks ward of which West Silvertown forms a part
- the statistics are reproduced here by kind permission of the National Statistics Office.
Top of Page
Key Points in History
- 1847 - the railway from Stratford
to North Woolwich is completed opening up the Plaistow Marshes to industrial
and other development
- 1852 - Samuel Silver brings his waterproof
clothing works to the area and gives Silvertown its name
- 1855 - The Royal Victoria Dock is
completed.
- 1880 - The Royal Albert Docks is completed
and linked to the Royal Victoria Dock via the Connaught Passage.
- 1881 - Abram Lyle & Sons from
Greenock set up a plant to make sugar and golden syrup at Plaistow Wharf.
In 1921 they merge with Henry Tate & Sons already established in
Silvertown to form Tate and Lyle.
- 1886 - Area becomes part of the new
County Borough of West Ham
- 1909 - Port of London Authority (PLA)
created and takes over the Docks
- 1917 - 50 tons of TNT blow up in the
Brunner Mond & Co works in Silvertown causing serious death and
destruction.
- 1921 - The King George V Dock is completed.
- 1934 - Silvertown Way - Britains first
flyover - is completed.
- 1940 - Area subject ot heavy bombing.
West Silvertown suffers much death and destruction during this and later
years of the Second World War.
- 1965 - Area becomes part of London
Borough of Newham when West Ham is merged with East Ham.
- 1967 - New tower blocks, Cranbrook
Point and Dunlop Point, built at Barnwood Court. Both demolished in
1990s as part of the scheme for Britannia Village
- 1981 - The London Docklands Development
Corporation (LDDC) is established to regenerate the area. The
Royal Docks are closed for general cargo handling at the end of the
year.
- 1983 - the LDDC acquires the Royal
Victoria Dock from the PLA
- 1987 - Flights start from London City
Airport
- 1990 - Widening of North Woolwich
Road completed as well as the new Connaught Crossing, both part of the
LDDC's Docklands Strategic highways
- 1991 - Lower Lea Crossing completed.
- 1994 - Peabody Homes start 85 homes
at Fort Street the first new homes in what would later be called Britannia
Village.
- 1994 - LDDC short-lists four
firms to put in bids for a large-scale exhibition centre on the north
side of the Royal Victoria Dock
- 1995 - LDDC sells 28 acres of land
to Wimpey Homes to build 777 private dwellings and six shops at Britannia
Village. Land also allocated for 140 new homes to be built in
the Village by the Peabody Trust and East Thames Housing Group.
- 1995 - LDDC invites architects to
submit designs from for the Thames Barrier Park and works starts two
years later..
- 1998 - Work starts on building ExCel.
LDDC is wound up.
- 1999 - Jubilee Line Extension brings
the Tube to Canning Town
- 2000 - ExCel Exhibition Centre and
Thames Barrier park opened
- 2003 - Plans unveiled for the Silvertown
Quays Development. Work starts on extending the DLR from Canning
Town to London City Airport and North Woolwich
- 2005 - Outline planning permission granted for Silvertown Quays Development. London's Olympic bid approved and planning permission granted for key Olympic sites in Lea Valley. Bill deposited for Crossrail scheme. DLR City Airport Extension and A13 improvements completed
For a fuller
history of the Royal Docks, including West Silvertown, visit
the website of the Royal Docks Trust (London).
For a collection of pictures of West Silvertown in earlier times vist Stan's Gallery
Top of Page
More Information
Photo Gallery: View our
Gallery of current
photographs taken around the area.
History: For a short
history of the Royal Docks, including West Silvertown, visit the website
of the Royal Docks Trust (London).
Latest Developments:
On our Current Developments page you will
find a fuller account of new developments affecting West Silvertown.
Local services and facilities:
For detailed information on services and faciities in the wider area of
the Royal Docks visit RoyalDocks.info
Travel Information: For
travel directions go to RoyalDocks.info
Useful Local Contacts:
For a quick reference guide on how to contact the local council and other
official bodies visit our Useful Contacts page
Local Community Organisations: Visit our Local
Organisations page for information on local community
organisations
Local Water Sports Clubs:
The Royal Docks provide a wealth of water sporting activities. For details
of the various facilities vist the website
of the Royal Docks Trust.
Top of Page
Page last modified: 24th March 2006
|
