Description
East India Dock Basin was created as a new wildlife/nature park in 1996/7, while retaining significant remnants of its rich history as part of the extensive East India Docks built here in 1803-06. The dock basin survives largely intact as the only area of enclosed water to remain of the original docks. East India Dock Basin is now home to a wealth of wildlife. The landscaping includes wildflower meadows and saltmarsh, with a small part of the import dock retained that supports mute swans and other wildfowl. Birds seen here have included kingfishers, black redstarts and nesting common terns. The northern edge of the basin has been infilled to create islands, reed beds and other features to attract wildfowl and insects. The C19th lock gates were refurbished as part of the scheme; remnants of the site's industrial heritage are found by the paths and in the woodland to the south of the basin. At the entrance at the northern end of Orchard Place are The Salome Gates, created by sculptor Sir Anthony Caro through a commission in 1996.
Practical Information
| Site location | Orchard Place / Thames Path |
|---|---|
| Postcode | E14 9QS |
| What3Words | ///these.ended.statue |
| Type of Site | Public Open Land |
| Borough | Tower Hamlets |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | 8.30/9am - dusk |
| Public Transport | DLR: East India. Bus: D3 |
| Research Updated | 28 January 2021 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
The East India Dock Basin was part of the East India Docks, constructed here by the East India Company between 1803 and 1806, the third wet docks to be built along the Thames, following the West India Docks (1800-06) and London Docks (1802-05). The East and West India Companies merged with the London and St Katherine's Docks in 1901 but in March 1909 they were taken over by the Port of London Authority. The docks eventually closed in 1967. The basin survives largely intact as the only area of enclosed water left of the East India Docks. From the basin there were two locks, the Entrance Lock that was once the sole entrance from the river, and a second lock leading into the Import Dock. The basin and locks were designed to accommodate the largest East Indiamen and as trade and business increased, in 1815 the basin was enlarged to almost twice the original size with further land purchased from the Pemell Estate to achieve this. Further enlargements of the basin and lock gates were carried out in the 1870s, with a new cut made in 1897 between the basin and the Export Lock. The original entrance lock was filled in and the surviving entrance lock is that constructed in 1897, which in 1995/7 was refurbished when the basin was created as a nature reserve. The Export Dock had suffered bomb damage in WWII and was sold in 1946, the site was infilled and became that of the Brunswick Wharf Power Station.
East India Dock Basin is now home to a wealth of wildlife. Publicly accessible during the day it is managed by Lee Valley Regional Park Authority. The landscaping includes wildflower meadows and saltmarsh, with a small part of the import dock retained, which supports mute swans and other wildfowl. Birds seen here have included kingfishers, black redstarts and nesting common terns. The northern edge of the basin has been infilled to create islands, reed beds and other features to attract wildfowl and insects. Remnants of the site's industrial history are found around the site by the paths, and in the woodland to the south of the basin. Renowned sculptor Sir Anthony Caro OM CBE (1924-2013) was commissioned in 1996 to create the gates at the entrance at the northern end of Orchard Place, which he named The Salome Gates. A plaque describes his inspiration and working method when creating this commission is installed on the gate pier.
The Basin forms part of the Green Grid..
East India Dock Basin is now home to a wealth of wildlife. Publicly accessible during the day it is managed by Lee Valley Regional Park Authority. The landscaping includes wildflower meadows and saltmarsh, with a small part of the import dock retained, which supports mute swans and other wildfowl. Birds seen here have included kingfishers, black redstarts and nesting common terns. The northern edge of the basin has been infilled to create islands, reed beds and other features to attract wildfowl and insects. Remnants of the site's industrial history are found around the site by the paths, and in the woodland to the south of the basin. Renowned sculptor Sir Anthony Caro OM CBE (1924-2013) was commissioned in 1996 to create the gates at the entrance at the northern end of Orchard Place, which he named The Salome Gates. A plaque describes his inspiration and working method when creating this commission is installed on the gate pier.
The Basin forms part of the Green Grid..
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ390807 |
|---|---|
| Site Ownership | Lee Valley Regional Park Authority? |
| Site Management | Lee Valley Regional Park Authority |
| Dates | 1803-06 (East India Docks); park:1996/7 |
| Listed Structures | LBII: Blackwall Pier and Entrance Lock to Former East India Dock Basin |
| On National Heritage List for England (NHLE), Parks & Gardens | No |
| Registered common or village green on Commons Registration Act 1965 | No |
| Protected under London Squares Preservation Act 1931 | No |
| Local Authority | Tower Hamlets |
| In Conservation Area | No |
| Tree Preservation Order | No |
| Nature Conservation Area | Yes - Local or Borough Importance I |
| Green Belt | No |
| Metropolitan Open Land | Yes |
| Special Policy Area | Archaelogical Priority Area; Thames Policy Area |
| Other LA Designation | Publicly Accessible Open Space; Flood Zone, Green Grid Buffer Zone |
Gallery
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Nearby parks and gardens
Keir Hardie Recreation Ground is named after Keir Hardie, who was returned as the first truly Labour MP by the constituency of West Ham South in 1892. The area had rapidly developed from the mid C19th as the former marshland became a densely populated industrial area. The site of the recreation ground in Custom House was covered by housing by the 1860s. Custom House was badly bombed in WWII and the large post-war Keir Hardie Estate was built in the 1950s, with Keir Hardie Recreation Ground provided as public open space. Surrounded by modern railings, the park has been renovated as part of recent regeneration efforts and has a perimeter path, mature and recently-planted trees, play areas and football pitches.
All Saints' Church was built for the newly created parish of Poplar to serve the rapidly developing population. The churchyard was re-ordered on the north side as a public garden by the MPGA in 1893, completed 1905. The chapel of St Frideswide was incorporated into the church when St Frideswide's Church was bombed in WWII and All Saints also suffered some damage. To the south of the church is a small railed-off Garden of Remembrance, with flowerbeds and some chest tombs. Headstones are generally arranged round the perimeter of the garden, which has mature perimeter trees and fine C19th railings.
The Lansbury Estate was built in the 1950s as part of the LCC's post-war reconstruction of Stepney/Poplar to create a single community of 11 neighbourhood areas over a 30 acre site. Neighbourhood Area 9 was selected for the 'live architecture' component of the Festival of Britain in 1951, which became the first phase of the Lansbury Estate. An early instance of neighbourhood planning principles put into practice, the estate comprised low-rise housing; an open market square with shops, public houses and a clock tower; schools, churches and other amenities. Landscaping included amenity green space between housing, street trees, a communal public garden known as Trinity Gardens, and two small enclosed garden 'squares'.
