Coal Duty Posts

The next time you're driving, cycling, or walking in the outskirts of Greater London, keep an eye out for a humble, often white, cast-iron post. It might look like just another boundary marker, but these fascinating objects, known variously as Coal Posts or Coal Tax Posts, are silent sentinels of a centuries-old story of taxation, reconstruction, and London's booming growth.

The story of the Coal Posts begins long before they were erected. Since medieval times, the Corporation of the City of London had the authority to levy duties on goods, including coal, brought into the city. But it was a catastrophic event that truly put the coal duty into high gear: the Great Fire of 1666.

To fund the massive rebuilding effort, including iconic structures like St Paul's Cathedral, Acts of Parliament were passed, imposing additional duties on coal entering the Port of London. The revenue stream was vital, and over time, it was used for more than just immediate reconstruction. Funds from the coal and wine duties financed significant public works, such as the building of the Thames Embankment, Holborn Viaduct, and even the purchase of toll bridges to make them free for the public.

For centuries, collecting the tax was relatively straightforward. Coal came into London primarily by sea, docking at riverside wharves, where the tonnage could be easily measured and the duty collected.

However, the 19th century brought rapid change: the explosion of canals and railways. Suddenly, coal was entering London from all directions, bypassing the traditional wharves. The City of London needed a clear way to mark the inland boundary where the duty became payable.

London Stadium, Stratford

Walking around Stratford, today, it is hard to imagine that, up until twenty years ago, this was an area of London that was in dire need of regeneration.

Much of the area was derelict industrial wasteland, part of which was radioactive due to Queen Mary College's Department of Nuclear Engineering, having a small nuclear reactor onsite. Something needed to be done.

In 2001, following China's successful bid to host the 2008 Olympic Games, London put in a bid for the 2012 Olympic Games. Two plans were short-listed: 

1. West London - Based around Wembley and the construction of a new National Stadium to replace Wembley Stadium.
2. East London - Involving the regeneration of an area stretching from the Isle of Dogs, through Stratford, and on into the Lower Lea Valley.

The second plan won unanimously and so became the pitch for the London bid.

In May 2005, London won the bid to host the 2012 Olympics.

Construction

In May 2008, after the 'bowl' of the stadium had been excavated and the area cleared, construction of the stadium began. It was due to be completed in May 2011, but was completed in March of 2011, coming in under budget and ahead of schedule.

The foundation consists of 5,000 piles, driven to a depth of 20 m (66 ft)

In October 2011, the athletics track was laid. The track-and-field area is surrounded by 25,000 permanent seats, built using concrete.

Spectators and visitors enter the stadium at the podium level, which is inline with the top of the permanent seating. This upper tier was built from lightweight steel and concrete and accommodated another 55,000 spectators. The upper tier is 60 m (197 ft) in height.

Surrey Commercial Docks, Rotherhithe

Greenland Dock.

Walking around Rotherhithe it is hard to imagine that, just 40 years ago, this was a completely different area. Almost every part of it would have been docks, basins and cuts, rather than what now greets people. Housing estates, schools, shops, business centres, a farm, green spaces, ecology parks and, at its centre, Stave Hill Viewpoint have now replaced the docks that once covered this entire area. 

Of course, some small areas of water can be found, like Globe Pond Nature Reserve, Lavender Pond Nature Reserve and Surrey Water. Then you have some of the original docks, such as Canada Dock, Greenland Dock, Norway Dock and South Dock.

Brief History

Located in Rotherhithe, on the Surrey side of the River Thames, this area had been a hub of commercial activity since the 17th century.

The Howland Great Wet Dock was built between 1695 and 1699 and was the oldest of London's riverside wet docks. In 1763 the dock was sold and renamed Greenland Dock, due to the amount of whalers that used it. Greenland Dock became the central hub for the Surrey Commercial Docks.

During the 1800s expansions and improvements resulted in the formation of the Surrey Commercial Docks Company. These docks were part of the larger Port of London, which handled a significant amount of commercial shipping trade to and from the UK.

This is how the area once looked.

Many docks were named for what they imported or from where the products derived, while others had simpler names. There were docks named Albion, Canada, Greenland, Island, Lady, Lavender, Norway, Russia and Stave. Plus, the South and West Docks.

"Why are there no roads within the City of London?"

The City of London was founded nearly 2,000 years ago, by the Romans, before they eventually left Londinium, leaving the City for nature to reclaim.

Over the centuries different tribes and groups moved to within the old City walls. Eventually these small villages coalesced into large hamlets and towns. And as they grew and expanded alleys, avenues, lanes, passages, pathways, streets, yards and walks were formed, creating thoroughfares. However, there were no roads.

This is because the Romans had streets, which comes from the Latin 'strata', making the word 'street' one of the oldest continually used words in the English language. 

It wouldn't be until the late 1500s that the word 'road' would enter the English language. 'Road' is derived from the Old English word 'rad', which means 'a riding journey, usually with hostile intent'. Hence the word 'raid'.

As the City of London had been around for centuries, before this, all of its thoroughfares were already named.

In 1994 everything changed, for the City of London. Boundary changes were put in place which caused the City of London to 'absorb' part of Goswell Road from neighbouring Islington. 

Ironically, Goswell Road was known as Goswell Street, up until 1864.

Goswell Road is over three quarters of a mile in length, but only about 100 yards of it falls within the City boundary. So, technically, there is still not a single entire road within the City of London.

Aldgate Pump

At the corner of Leadenhall Street and Fenchurch Street, where the two streets join to form Aldgate High Street, you will find a stone obelisk with a lantern mounted to its top.

It is no ordinary obelisk, but is in fact the Aldgate Pump, a historic landmark point that marks the beginning of the East End and was mentioned by Charles Dickens, as well as being sung about in traditional rhymes and songs.

It was originally situated further west, on the site of what was to become Fenchurch Street station.

The freshwater well was fed from one of London's many underground rivers, beginning its journey in Hampstead, to the north, and had been used since the 13th century. The water was said to be "bright, sparkling and cool and of a pleasant flavour".

However, it was later discovered that the water was contaminated. The decaying organic matter and calcium from the bones of dead Londoners, in the nearby cemeteries, had begun to leach into the underground rivers and streams.

So, in 1876, when the Aldgate Pump was moved to its new location, it was connected to the mains water supply.

This current pump is made of Portland stone, and dates from the 18th century, while the brass wolf's head spout is 19th century. The lantern, at the top of the obelisk, is a handmade replica of the original, which was lost in 1900.

In 2019 the City of London Corporation, with the assistance of the Heritage of London Trust, repaired and restored the pump. Some of the money came from Miss Anthea Gray, who had left a generous gift in her Will, to the Heritage of London Trust.