BLACKWALL, a hamlet in the parish of STEPNEY,
Tower division of the hundred of OSSULSTONE, county
of MIDDLESEX, 2 miles (E.) from London. The por
pulation is returned with Poplar. This place, v/hich
is situated near the influx of the river Lea into the
Thames, consists chiefly of a few irregularly formed
streets, which are paved, and lighted with gas; the
houses, many of which are of wood, and of mean apt
pearance, are inhabited chiefly by shipwrights, and persons
employed in the docks: the inhabitants are supplied
with water by the East London Water Company..
It has long been noted for a very large private yard
for ship-building, and a wet dock, formerly belonging
to Mr. Perry, the former of which was purchased by
Sir Robert Wigram, Bart., and is still applied to the
same use; and the latter by the East India Company,
for the formation of their docks, which were commenced
in 1804, .and completed in 1806. These docks are
situated at the eastern extremity of the hamlet, and are
surrounded by a lofty wall: the entrance from the shore
is through a handsome gateway, surmounted by a
square turret, supporting an octagonal dome, in front or
which is a tablet, recording the date of their erection.:
they consist of an outer and an inner dock, both enclosed
with walls, and communicating by locks and flood-gates.
The entrance from the river is by a basin, nearly three
acres in extent, from which vessels sail directly into the
docks: the inner, or import dock, which is one thousand
four hundred feet in length, five hundred and sixty
in breadth, and of an average depth of thirty feet, occupies
an area of eighteen acres, and, on the arrival or the
fleets, affords accommodation for'sixteen ships to unload
their cargoes, though, from the custom-house regulations,
only twelve landing officers being appointed, no
more than twelve vessels can be unloaded at the same
time. The outer, or export dock, is seven hundred and
eighty feet long and five hundred and twenty feet wide,
and of the same depth as the inner dock; it was enlarged
in 1817 by an additional basin, prior to which
its area was rather more than nine acres. Extensive
ranges of warehouses have been erected within the
walls: those on the north side are for saltpetre, on
the south for storing the cargoes imported in shipping
belonging to the private trade, and, on the east
side of the import dock, for such goods as are not
removed to the Company's warehouses. Sheds are also
ranged round the docks, for the numerous vans employed
in removing the merchandise to its several
places of destination: these, of which seldom less than
eighty are in constant use, are strong carriages built
expressly for the purpose, and secured with bars and
locks, with duplicate keys, one of which is kept at the
docks, and the other at the Company's warehouses.
At Blackwell Reach, adjoining this hamlet, are the West
India docks, similarly constructed, but upon a more
extensive scale. These consist of two spacious docks
parallel with each other, and of equal dimensions, being
nearly half a mile in length, excavated in a direction
crossing the isthmus of the Isle of Dogs, and having
&n entrance basin of large extent at each extremity, by
which vessels sailing in either direction may avoid the
circuitous bend of the river. Between the docks are
extensive ranges of warehouses, as also on the south
side of the inner dock, for the convenience of forwarding
goods by land carriage, and on the north side of the
outer dock, in front of which is a canal three quarters
of a mile in length, intersecting the Isle of Dogs,
and forming a direct communication with the river at
two points, between which the distance, by sailing round
the isle, is nearly four miles and a half.