A Canary Wharf Estate Walk

Route & what to see

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This walk explores listed buildings and new developments. It begins at West India Quay and finishes at Canary Wharf - both DLR stations. The Museum of London Docklands is sited on West India Quay. There are plenty of places to eat in the area.
There are a number of art installations on the Canary Wharf Estate. These are listed within the text in upper case [
more details]

From the station walk along West India Quay.
Two Stothert & Pitt cranes of 1952 have been retained. The two Grade I listed warehouses of 1802-3 now house shops, apartments and the Museum of London Docklands. The remaining seven were destroyed by bombing in WWII.

Go into the Port East building and down the steps.
Notice how warehouse features have been retained.

Exit into Hertsmere Road and walk to the left. Go across to the former Dockmaster's House of 1807, now a restaurant. Go under the railway and left into Garford Street.
The Queen Anne style building, now a Salvation Army Hostel, was built in 1902 for Scandanavian seamen. Cottages designed by John Rennie in 1819 were provided for the dock police (the sergeant had the larger central one).

Return to the Dockmaster's House
Adjacent to this are remaining gate piers

Go past the PLA Police offices building of 1914
Beyond this are the Cannon Workshops of 1824-5 by Rennie fronted by a round building of 1803, formerly an armoury. This was one of a pair that flanked the original Hibbert Gate.

Cross to the side of the Grade I listed Ledger building of 1803 (now a Wetherspoons pub)
The construction of the docks is recorded on a plaque.

Go around to the front of the Ledger building
There is a statue by Richard Westmacott of Robert Milligan (1746-1809), one of the founders of the West India Docks. Barges moored here are used as a restaurant, art gallery and church.

Go along the dockside to the HIBBERT GATE
The main gate to the West India Docks became known as the Hibbert Gate after the West Indiaman ship mounted on top of it. This is a reconstruction with a ship by Leo Stevenson (pictured in header).

Continue and go up the steps to the right into Columbus Courtyard.
COURTYARD FOUNTAIN BY KOETTER KIM & ASSOCIATES. PLANTERS BY TATIANA ORLOFF. COLUMBUS SCREEN BY WENDY RAMSHAW. CENTURIONE I BY IGOR MITORAJ. [pix]

Across the courtyard exit by the 'Arcade to West Ferry Circus'. Go around West Ferry circus to the right.
There is a prayer room (open for sevices only).

Cross West Ferry Road to the distinctive Four Seasons Hotel.
Canary Riverside alongside this gives extensive views from Deptford to the City.
WINDWAND BY RON ARAD

Cross over into West Ferry Circus.
This is a pleasant grassed garden with a variety of trees.
ENTRANCE GATE & SCULPTURAL RAILINGS BY GIUSSEPPE LUND. SASSO COSMICO BY DO KONIG VASSILAKIS. VANISHING POINT BY JAY BATTLE. GROWTH FORM 2012 BY HUGH CHAPMAN. CHIMNEY BY ANDREW BURTON. AVATAR BY ROBERT WORLEY.

Exit on the far side and walk along the left hand side of West India Avenue towards Canary Wharf.
MAN WITH ARMS OPEN BY GILES PENNY. WILLOUGHBY PASSAGE GATE BY KATY HACKNEY.

Cross to Cabot Square
RAILINGS BY JAMES HORROBIN & SOM. RELIEF PORTRAIT OF MICHAEL VON CLEMM BY GERALD LAING.

Go clockwise around the lower level. At the next sets of steps go up to the central fountains.
COUPLE ON SEAT BY LYNN CHADWICK. FOUNTAIN BY RICHARD CHAIX & CMS. CAST GLASS PANELS BY JEFF BELL. BRONZE BOWLS BY PHILIP JACKSON & SOM.

On the opposite side go down, cross the road and continue down Cubitt Steps to the dockside.
TWO MEN ON A BENCH BY GILES PENNY

Go to the left along Mackenzie Walk.
PROMENADE RAILINGS BY JAMES HORROBIN & SOM. A BEAUTIFUL SUNSET MISTAKEN FOR A DAWN BY SINTA TANTRA.

Continue under the DLR railway into Reuters Plaza.
SIX PUBLIC CLOCKS BY KONSTANTIN GRCIC. Note: It is worth going down to view the giant space of Canary Wharf (Jubilee line) Station. [pix]

Go into Jubilee Park alongside the station and walk through to the central pavilion. Take the escalator down to Jubilee Place.
MOSAICS BY EMMA BIGGS.

Take the escalator up at the west end to the West Wintergarden.
GALAXY III BY DANIEL CHADWICK. THE SPIRIT OF EAST LONDON BY MAUREEN ANNE HOLLEY. .

Exit on the north side and go right along Bank Street.
TESTA ADDORMENTALA BY IGOR MITORAJ. Within Number 40 are several art works: TREE & ANGELO I BY DO VASSILAKIS-KONIG. VERTICAL 40 BY RACHAEL WOODMAN. KIDNEY I & II BY ALISON CROWTHER. REDBERRIES & BLUEBERRIES BY JENNIE MONCUR.

The East Wintergarden is sited along on the right. FLIGHT PATHS BY MICHAEL BRENNAND-WOOD.

Cross back to Jubilee Park and continue to walk through (to the right). At the end cross Upper Bank Street to Montgomery Square.
CENTAURO BY IGOR MITORAJ. CROSS WAY BY NIGEL ROSS. DRAWING CUBE (BLUE) BY SURESH DUTT. SACRIFICIAL ANODE BY EILIS O' CONNELL.

Continue northwards along Upper Bank Street
The side elevation of the Waitrose store is of interest.

Opposite this go left through Canada Square Park.
THE BIG BLUE BY RON ARAD. There is an interesting History Wall in the foyer of the HSBC Bank.

Go along the North Colonnade and into Cabot Place East on the left.
Site maps are available for this area. Most shops etc are on the lower promenade level with some on the upper levels. Cabot Place West with
PATTERN FOR DEMOCRACY BY EMMA BIGGS is on the other side of the Canary Wharf DLR concourse which gives access to all platforms.

 

london-footprints.co.uk 2015

Reference sources
Discover London Docklands A-Z Illustrated Guide by S K Al Naib
Dockland Heritage published by the LDDC
Buildings of England - London Docklands by Elizabeth Williamson & Niklaus Pevsner
Sculpture at Canary Wharf: A Permanent Collection

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