London's Docklands have a rich and varied history. Dating from the Middle Ages, they developed into one of the biggest docks in the world. The riches of Britain's Empire found its way into the country through the River Thames and into London. Unfortunately, the people who worked and lived in London's Docklands rarely shared in the riches arriving from around the world.

The area around the docks was one of the poorest in the country, with men working on a casual basis and often fighting other men for the few jobs available in the docks. As well as the docks, the area along the Thames was also a major shipbuilding site until the early twentieth century where many of the early warships were built.