Mudchute
Encyclopedia
Mudchute is the name of a locality just south of Canary Wharf
on the Isle of Dogs
in Docklands, London
, England
.
The name of the area is in testament to the engineering overspill when Millwall Dock
was being constructed in the 1860s. Spoil from the excavation of the Dock, and silt
from its channels and waterways were dumped on nearby land, using a conveyor system.
The end of this system, where the rich Thames
mud was deposited, was literally a mud chute, and the area of fertile, hilly land thus created became known as "The Mudchute". This area quickly established itself as a wildlife habitat and adventuring location for local children.
Over time this developed into a park and a small city farm, which proved popular with dock workers and their families.
gave permission for the construction of a high-rise housing estate on The Mudchute, and the resulting backlash from the local population lead to the 1977 creation of the Mudchute Association, a registered charity whose primary objective is "Management of the park and farm with special consideration for animals, wildlife, visitors, trainees & staff. To maintain the financial sustainability of the project and to respond to local needs and initiatives."
The housing estates of Clipper Quay and Mill Quay are located nearby.
The Docklands Sailing and Watersports Centre on Millwall Dock was set up in 1989 by the London Docklands Development Corporation
and the Sports Council at a cost of £1.2 million.
Canary Wharf
Canary Wharf is a major business district located in London, United Kingdom. It is one of London's two main financial centres, alongside the traditional City of London, and contains many of the UK's tallest buildings, including the second-tallest , One Canada Square...
on the Isle of Dogs
Isle of Dogs
The Isle of Dogs is a former island in the East End of London that is bounded on three sides by one of the largest meanders in the River Thames.-Etymology:...
in Docklands, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
The name of the area is in testament to the engineering overspill when Millwall Dock
Millwall Dock
Millwall Dock is a dock at Millwall, south of Canary Wharf on the Isle of Dogs, in London.-History:The Millwall Dock was constructed by John Aird & Co. to a design by Sir John Fowler and opened in 1868....
was being constructed in the 1860s. Spoil from the excavation of the Dock, and silt
Silt
Silt is granular material of a size somewhere between sand and clay whose mineral origin is quartz and feldspar. Silt may occur as a soil or as suspended sediment in a surface water body...
from its channels and waterways were dumped on nearby land, using a conveyor system.
The end of this system, where the rich Thames
River Thames
The River Thames flows through southern England. It is the longest river entirely in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom. While it is best known because its lower reaches flow through central London, the river flows alongside several other towns and cities, including Oxford,...
mud was deposited, was literally a mud chute, and the area of fertile, hilly land thus created became known as "The Mudchute". This area quickly established itself as a wildlife habitat and adventuring location for local children.
Over time this developed into a park and a small city farm, which proved popular with dock workers and their families.
Backlash
In 1974 the Greater London CouncilGreater London Council
The Greater London Council was the top-tier local government administrative body for Greater London from 1965 to 1986. It replaced the earlier London County Council which had covered a much smaller area...
gave permission for the construction of a high-rise housing estate on The Mudchute, and the resulting backlash from the local population lead to the 1977 creation of the Mudchute Association, a registered charity whose primary objective is "Management of the park and farm with special consideration for animals, wildlife, visitors, trainees & staff. To maintain the financial sustainability of the project and to respond to local needs and initiatives."
The housing estates of Clipper Quay and Mill Quay are located nearby.
The Docklands Sailing and Watersports Centre on Millwall Dock was set up in 1989 by the London Docklands Development Corporation
London Docklands Development Corporation
The London Docklands Development Corporation was a quango agency set up by the UK Government in 1981 to regenerate the depressed Docklands area of east London. During its eighteen-year existence it was responsible for regenerating an area of in the London Boroughs of Newham, Tower Hamlets and...
and the Sports Council at a cost of £1.2 million.