On the south bank of the River Thames, directly east of Tower Bridge, lies a historic pocket of London that has endured for centuries. Stretching from Tower Bridge Road along the riverfront to St Saviour's Dock, and bounded to the south by Tooley Street, this unique neighbourhood is known as Shad Thames.
Much of this area was originally part of Horselydown, a vast open space dating back to the 12th century. While the exact origins of the name "Shad Thames" remain a mystery, it first appeared in print on John Rocque's 1746 map of London.
Though buildings have lined this section of the Port of London since the 16th century, the oldest structures surviving today are from the 19th-century industrial boom. Throughout the Victorian era and well into the 20th century, the area thrived as a bustling hub of river commerce, packed with cargo warehouses, wharves, and granaries.
