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Museum of London Docklands
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Mudlarks

Children’s gallery

Trade Expansion

1600-1800

Permanent galleries

No.1 Warehouse

Introductory gallery

A rare survival of what was once the world’s largest dock complex

The museum building was originally No. 1 Warehouse of the West India Docks. Opened in 1802, the West India Docks were London’s first enclosed dock system, built away from the open river on the Isle of Dogs. This gallery looks at how London’s historic docks and warehouses operated at the height of their success.

  • Entrance view of the No. 1 Warehouse gallery at the Museum of London Docklands.
  • Carved figure of a steersman in the No. 1 Warehouse gallery.
  • Mummified cat found in a London dock warehouse.
  • Time-bell used to summon dock-workers to warehouses in the Port of London.
  • Destination boards hanging in the No. 1 Warehouse gallery.
  • Large balance scales in the No. 1 Warehouse gallery.
  • Large baskets used for moving loose cargo in the No. 1 Warehouse gallery.
  • Interactive tables in the No. 1 Warehouse gallery showing weights, ropes and tools.
  • Winch and film displayed in the No. 1 Warehouse gallery.
  • Looking from a high quayside window at the Museum of London Docklands.

Not to be missed on your visit

View slideshow

Entrance view of the No. 1 Warehouse gallery at the Museum of London Docklands.

Step back a hundred years into the past

This gallery uses authentic objects from the working No. 1 Warehouse, alongside footage of the London docks, to recreate the atmosphere of the bustling commercial Port of London.

Carved figure of a steersman in the No. 1 Warehouse gallery.

The Helmsman, made around 1850

This sculpture of a sailor stood on the roof of Bawn & Co. mast-makers, located in West India Dock road, becoming a local landmark and advertisement for the Bawn's carving skills.

Mummified cat found in a London dock warehouse.

Mummified cat and rat

The body of this cat and rat were discovered behind some bottles at the London Docks in the 1890s. Cats were allowed to run freely around warehouses to try and control pests.

Time-bell used to summon dock-workers to warehouses in the Port of London.

Call-on bell, early 19th century

Bells like this one were rung to mark the opening and closing times of warehouses, signalling the daily gatherings and dismissals of the dockworkers.

Destination boards hanging in the No. 1 Warehouse gallery.

Destination boards

Ships sailing from London might stop at many different ports, requiring their cargo to be packed in exactly the right order. These boards told dockworkers which cargoes to load first.

Large balance scales in the No. 1 Warehouse gallery.

Beamscales, from between 1895 and 1920

These large scales were used to measure goods as they entered or left the warehouses. They are mounted on iron tripods, allowing them to be used anywhere throughout the docks.

Large baskets used for moving loose cargo in the No. 1 Warehouse gallery.

Cargo basket, early to mid-20th century

Baskets like this were used mainly to load light loose cargoes, including esparto grass that was imported for making paper.

Interactive tables in the No. 1 Warehouse gallery showing weights, ropes and tools.

Get your hands on history at the interactive table

You can feel a selection of docker's tools from trolleys to loading hooks, and lift these weights to get a measure of work on in the warehouse.

Winch and film displayed in the No. 1 Warehouse gallery.

See the docks in action

Featuring remastered footage from the Port of London authority, this film shows what the inside of a busy warehouse looked like.

Looking from a high quayside window at the Museum of London Docklands.

Spot the architectural details

The lovingly restored fabric of the museum building has many small relics of the working warehouse, like this loophole window used to winch cargo to the correct floor.

Gallery access

The gallery is open during the museum's normal hours:

11.30am - 3.30pm (Mon-Fri) & 10am-6pm (Sat & Sun)

The gallery is on the third floor and can be accessed by lift.

Free entry, timed ticket

No. 1 Warehouse also of interest

mudlarksbook-also-interest.jpg

Temporarily closed

Mudlarks under-fives' gallery

Bring the kids to play in this fun interactive learning space.

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Interior of the shop at Museum of London Docklands

Fun for families

We have lots of free activities for families to enjoy.

Find out more

Roman intaglio with clasped hands, no. 001508 on Picturechase.

With thanks

The Warehouse No. 1 gallery was achieved through the generous support of many individuals and organisations.

Who made this possible

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Update from the Museum of London Docklands

Following the recent Government announcement of a national lockdown, the Museum of London and the Museum of London Docklands will continue to be closed to the public.

The health and wellbeing of our visitors, staff and community is of utmost importance to us and we will closely review the advice from the Government and Public Health England as to when we can reopen.

While the museum buildings may be closed, we’re still open online with loads of content to keep you entertained. Check our website or follow us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter @MuseumOfLondon for all the latest news. Thank you for your continued support and we look forward to welcoming you back soon!