SOURCE: The Saturday Magazine, No. 117. Supplement, April, 1834
The St. KATHERINE'S DOCKS are situated between the London Docks and the Tower. In clearing the ground for this great public work, no less than 11,300 persons were obliged to seek accommodation elsewhere. More than 1250 houses were pulled down, amongst which was the ancient Hospital of St. Katherine*. The capital embarked in the undertaking has consequently been very great; and it has been found necessary to augment it to 2,152,800l. The area within the walls is about 24 acres; 11 1/2 of which are water. The warehouses, which are extensive and commodious, are supported on the side fronting the Docks, by massive Doric pillars of cast-iron, a mode of construction which has been attended with a great saving of time and expense: goods can be hoisted at one operation from the hold of the vessel into the warehouses; there have consequently been instances of despatch in unloading ships in the St. Katherine's Docks, which appear almost marvelous. About 150 ships, independently of craft, can be accommodated here; and in consequence of the proximity to the city, the tonnage is progressively increasing.
The St. Katherine's Dock Steam-Packet Wharf was the first attempt made on this river to land and embark passengers, without the risk and inconvenience of boat-conveyance; a landing-place is now forming on the site of Old London Bridge :—the appropriation of any part of this venerable relic of antiquity for the purposes of a steamwharf might furnish matter for an essay.
The commodious basin of the Regent's Canal, at Lime-house, which was opened in 1820, is also used as a dock.
* See Saturday Magazine, Vol. II., p. 132.
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