Canary Wharf is home to one of the world’s leading financial centres, with a long and varied history of how it became the well-developed, luxurious area it is today.
The name Canary Wharf derives from an era of maritime trade conducted with the Canary Islands. Canary Wharf is also known as the Isle of Dogs, a name that comes from a mention in the state papers of King Henry III that stated King Edward III kept greyhounds here.
Canary Wharf is currently home to one of the world’s leading financial centres. It now plays a huge role in the wealth of the capital with some of the most well-known financial companies resident in the area. However, the docklands were not always known for wealth.
During the Second World War, the docklands were heavily targeted by German bombers. When German bombing raids dropped 2,500 bombs on the docks, cargo transportation was unable to recover and the major East End docks were forced to close, leading to a rise in unemployment in the area during the 1970s.
It wasn’t until the 1980s, when the government set up the London Docklands Development Corporation, that the docklands we know today, with their luxury homes and developments, came into being.
Being one of the leading financial centres in the world means transport in and out of Canary Wharf is crucial. Pictured here is the interior of Canary Wharf Underground station, an essential transport hub for commuting workers.
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