Granaries, Shipyards and Wharves - Cycling from Guildford

The walk in this booklet is presented as an itinerary exploring
the maritime history of Rotherhithe. The theme of Walk “B” is
“Shipyards, Granaries and Wharves”; it begins at Surrey Quays
underground station, and follows the south side of Greenland
Dock to the River Thames. The route then follows the river
upstream, visiting the sites of several shipyards, where vessels
of international historic significance were constructed, passing
some of the imposing granaries, and the wharves, which
eventually were to replace shipbuilding as the main industrial
activity on this stretch of the river. It ends at the Surrey
Entrance Lock, with the option of a short walk to Rotherhithe
Station, or of taking a bus for a quicker return.
Surrey Quays station to Surrey Entrance Lock can be walked in
2 1 /2 to 3 hours. Once having left Greenland Dock, this walk
offers some flexibility for those who prefer a shorter outing (or
discover that the weather is not going to be quite as good as
was hoped!). At no point is the later part of the route more
than a few minutes walk from a bus stop.
Few areas of London have undergone as much change from
war damage, post war reconstruction and redevelopment in
the 1980s and 1990s. However, with a little imagination, it is
possible to once more fill Rotherhithe Street with throngs of
mariners and busy workmen, and the docks with the masts of
tall ships and the funnels of steamers.
You will find it helpful to read the following background notes,
before setting out.
TRANSPORT, INDUSTRY AND THE DOCKS 1