Storage In Canary Wharf: An In-Depth Look at The Business Heart of London

Known as the financial district of the nation’s capital, Canary Wharf has been a thriving hub of business for many, many years. Built at the start of the 19th century, it has only grown since then and now, you can even utilise storage in Canary Wharf!

Store That are situated a stone’s throw away from some of the major offices, making our facilities the perfect option for office storage. Due to our location, the Store That team wanted to take the opportunity to take you through the rich history of the area we call home!

The Beginning of Canary Wharf and The Docklands

The Docklands has always been important to London, being the hub of imports in the capital. In the 1800’s, the East End was full of docks which attracted workers from all over the world, creating a densely populated area with a wealth of nationalities and cultures.

Long before the Canary Wharf we know and love today, the site on the West India Docks on the Isle of Dogs was used as a quay; this oversaw imported fruit and veg from the Mediterranean and Canary Islands (hence the name). In the 1960’s the port industry started to decline and by 1980, all the docks were closed for good. The British Government set up the London Docklands Development Corporation a year later to ensure the redevelopment of the area. This then led to the proposals for a new financial district and the birth of the Docklands Light Railway (DLR).

Building the Financial Capital

The first building was the skyscraper at One Canada Square. This is the one that everyone immediately recognises from its pyramid shaped top! At the time of its construction in 1990, it was Britain’s tallest building for over two decades.

A year later, the first tenants moved into Canary Wharf, these included banks such as Morgan Stanley, HSBC, and Citigroup. Eventually, most banks moved to the area, Barclays being the last in 2005.

Canary Wharf is not just home to banks but also print. Many of the publishers who were previously situated on Fleet Street moved East, including the Telegraph, the Mirror and the Independent.

Canary Wharf Today

Whilst many still know it as the financial district, since 2008, Canary Wharf has been struggling to keep its grip on the financial world. It now aims to diversify its businesses further by branching into sciences, research, and pharmaceuticals. Additionally, there are current works and ongoing plans to make the area more community focused, to attract East London apartment buyers to the area.