- Wapping’s geographical area is defined by its borders with The Highway to the north, Limehouse to the east, St Katherine’s Dock to the west, and the Thames to the south. We suggest you don’t do too much experimentation with crossing the border to the south… you’ll get a bit wet!
- The name ‘Wapping’ was first recorded c.1220 and may have derived from words meaning ‘the settlement of Wæppa’s people’. Alternatively, it may have meant ‘marshy place’, via a connection with the Old English word wapol.
- The Prospect of Whitby is the London’s oldest riverside pub and dates back to 1520. In previous incarnations it was known as The Pelican and the Devil’s Tavern… on account of its reputation.
- Wapping was home to Execution Dock where, for more than 400 years, pirates, smugglers and general ne’er-do-wells went to meet their maker from the scaffold. The last hangings were in 1830.
- London Dock was constructed at Wapping between 1800 and 1815 (opening in 1805) and specialised in rice, tobacco, wine, wool and brandy. The dock closed in the late 1960s, and its basins were mostly filled in.
- Wapping is renowned for its warehouse conversions, but its current look and feel is as much to with the devastation the area suffered in the Second World War and the scope of the 1980’s Docklands Development Corporation as the demise of the Docks.
- John Newton, Anglican clergyman and author of many hymns including Amazing Grace was born in Wapping.
- Wapping Overground takes you to Shoreditch High Street in 6 minutes. For City workers that’s a particularly short commute. For the shoppers and eaters and drinkers amongst you, well, it’s just great!
- Some Wapping residents refer to themselves as “Wappa’s”.
- And finally some opinion, rather than fact. The Wapping branch of Pizza Express on Wapping Lane has surely got to be their best looking outlet?
