by Dorothee Schröder
A Riverside Ward
Queenhithe is a ward in the City of London, located south of St Paul’s Cathedral on the River Thames.
From Roman Dock to Royal Wharf
Probably the site of a former Roman dock, it was known in Anglo-Saxon times as “Ethelred’s Hythe”. The name “Queenhithe” refers to Matilda of Scotland, wife of Henry I of England, who was granted the duties from goods traded there.
London’s Oldest Dock
As the City of London’s oldest dock, the area has a long history, commemorated by a thirty-metre mosaic depicting a timeline from Roman times to the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II.
Flood Protection
A high and reinforced river wall protects Queenhithe from high tides of the Thames.
Wartime Destruction
During The Blitz, around three quarters of the buildings in Queenhithe were destroyed, resulting in a complex urban layout with surviving narrow lanes and alleys.
A Small Residential Area
Despite the City’s business character, Queenhithe remains a small residential enclave, with a population of just 319 according to the 2011 census.
Millennium Bridge
The Millennium Bridge provides a pedestrian link to the South Bank, connecting Queenhithe with the Tate Modern and bringing a steady flow of visitors through the area.
The Salvation Army
Queenhithe is home to the international headquarters of The Salvation Army.
A Film Location
In the 1951 comedy The Lavender Hill Mob, Alec Guinness appears in a scene set at the wharf, falling into the Thames and being rescued by two policemen.
St Mary Somerset
The church of St Mary Somerset, dating back to the twelfth century, once stood in Queenhithe. Today, only its tower survives on Upper Thames Street.
Cover picture: St Mary Somerset (photo by Dorothee Schröder)
