West India Docks, London E1

West India Docks

William Jessop, assisted by Ralph Walker, with John Rennie as consultant

1802-1806

London

Note the quayside cranes and the SS Robin.

Photograph and caption by Jacqueline Banerjee, 2009.

[You may use this image without prior permission for any scholarly or educational purpose as long as you (1) credit the photographer and (2) link your document to this URL in a web document or cite the Victorian Web in a print one.]

The coastal cargo steamer SS Robin (launched in 1890) is seen here in its permanent mooring, not far from where it was built at the Thames Ironworks, Orchard House Yard in Blackwell, E. London. Considered to be "the world's oldest complete steamship" (Weinreb et al. 999), and a "miraculous survivor, a unique symbol of Britain's Victorian merchant fleet" ("SS Robin Trust: News Release"), it is incongruously seen beside one of Dockland's glossy new office blocks. SS Robin is currently away from its mooring, being refitted in dry-dock in Lowestoft. The two huge quay-cranes are also relics and important symbols of this historic dock's past. Note: according to The London Encyclopaedia, SS Robin was built in Liverpool, but in this case we can trust Dick Sullivan's account of the ship (see link above) and the ship's own dedicated website (see below) — both state that it was built in nearby Blackwell.

Other Views and Related Material

Bibliography

Weinreb, Ben, et al. The London Encyclopaedia. 3rd ed. London: Macmillan, 2008.

Last modified 12 August 2009