Overview

Nineteenth-century London was not only the greatest city of its time but it had an equally immense port. Although the relationship between the two physically shaped the city and profoundly affected the lives and livelihoods of its inhabitants, historians have always told their stories separately. Sarah Palmer's authoritative work instead paints a picture of London as a maritime hub driven by trade, shipping, marine insurance, shipbuilding and meeting the needs of seafarers ashore. Drawing on disparate archival materials from dock company records, the National Archives, the London Metropolitan Archives and more, she reveals both the economic importance of international and domestic sea-borne trade and the unique urban geography it created. In creating this more interconnected understanding of Britain's capital, Palmer argues that the nineteenth-century transition from sail to steam didn't just affect London's port, but transformed the city and its economy with an impact comparable to that of the railways.

Full Product Details

Author:   Sarah Palmer (University of Greenwich)
Publisher:   Cambridge University Press
Imprint:   Cambridge University Press
ISBN:  

9781108444095

ISBN 10:   1108444091
Pages:   318
Publication Date:   30 April 2026
Audience:   College/higher education ,  Postgraduate, Research & Scholarly
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Forthcoming
Availability:   Not yet available  
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Table of Contents

List of Illustrations; List of Figures, Tables and Maps; Preface; List of Abbreviations; Introduction – London and its Port; Part I. The Sail Era: 1. 'This Immense Maritime Forest' – London River in the Late 18th Century; 2. Carrying the Plan into Effect – Building and Systems; 3. Monopoly, Competition and Control – The Docks as Businesses and Workplaces; 4. The Commerce of the Kingdom – The River Port; 5. Port and Populace – Maritime Industries and Communities in the First Half of the Century; Part II. The Steam Era; 6. Emporium of the World – Docks, Shipping and Cargoes; 7. Competition, Collusion, Conflict and Labour; 8. Port and Populace – Maritime Industries and Communities in the Second Half of the Century; 9. Reform of the Port of London – Again; Bibliography; Index.

Reviews

'… both the most detailed study of the Port of London currently available, and an interesting read.' Peter Stone, London Historians' Blog

Author Information

Sarah Palmer is Emeritus Professor of Maritime History, University of Greenwich. She specialises in 19th and 20th century national and international maritime economic history, maritime labour, maritime policy, and port development.

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