St John’s Wharf, River Thames 1969

This authentic 1960s colour photograph offers a detailed view of the Metropolitan Police Thames Division headquarters at Wapping in 1969. On the far left is the historic River Police Station at 100 Wapping High Street, the site of the oldest continuous police force in the world, founded in 1798. Moored at the station’s dedicated jetty are several white police launches, including the mid-century duty boats that patrolled the “beats” of the Thames. Standing immediately adjacent is the massive brick structure of St John’s (F&G) Wharf, a premier example of the Victorian riverside warehouses that once dominated the Pool of London. This image captures the area during its final decade as a purely industrial and functional maritime hub before the late-20th-century transition to residential lofts and the Captain Kidd public house. This high-resolution scan documents the intersection of law enforcement and commerce on the historic London riverfront. All our images are available as royalty-free instant downloads for use in books, media, and creative projects – or make your own prints for home, work, or as a truly unique gift.