Hays Wharf, Pool of London 1965

This authentic 1960s colour photograph captures the intense industrial activity at Hay’s Wharf in the Pool of London during 1965. The riverfront is a dense forest of luffing jib cranes, essential for the “Larder of London” which handled a vast percentage of the city’s imported provisions. Moored alongside the deep-water berths is the cargo ship Bellona, a Swedish vessel typical of the short-sea traders that frequented these wharves. The backdrop features the massive brick warehouses of the Hay’s Wharf estate, which at its height controlled nearly all the river territory between London Bridge and Tower Bridge on the south bank. A smaller sightseeing boat passes in the foreground, highlighting the contrast between the river’s emerging tourist role and its traditional status as a busy commercial artery. This area has since been completely transformed into the London Bridge City development, including Hay’s Galleria, making this a vital historical record of the Thames before the advent of containerisation moved the shipping industry further downstream. This digital download is a magnificent piece of maritime history, perfect to print for yourself as a piece of evocative vintage wall art.