The Great Warehouse — St. Katherine's Dock. Gustave Doré (1832-83). 1872. Headpiece for Chapter III of Douglas Jerrold's London, facing p. 27. Click on image to enlarge it. Formatting and text by George P. Landow. [You may use this image without prior permission for any scholarly or educational purpose as long as you c link your document to this URL in a web document or cite the Victorian Web in a print one.]
“THIS is one of the grand aspects of your London.”
We were sitting upon some barrels, not far within the St. Katherine's Dock Gates, on a sultry summer's day; watching the scene of extraordinary activity in the great entrepot before us.
“"There is no end to it! London Docks, St. Katherine's Docks, Commercial Docks on the other side,- India Docks, Victoria Docks; black with coal, blue with indigo, brown with hides, white with flour; stained with purple wine—or brown with tobacco!"”
The perspective of the great entrepot or warehouse before us is broken and lost in the whirl and movement. Bales, baskets, sacks, hogsheads, and waggons stretch as far as the eye can reach; and there is a deep murmur rising from the busy fellows within. The solid carters and porters; the dapper clerks, carrying pen and book; the Customs' men moving slowly; the slouching sailors in gaudy holiday clothes; the skipper in shiny black that fits him uneasily, convoying parties of wonder- ing ladies; negroes, Lascars, Portuguese, Frenchmen . . . [27]
Related Material
Bibliography
Jerrold, Blanchard, and Gustave Doré. London: A Pilgrimage. London: Grant & Co., 1872.
Last modified 16 February 2014