| 1799 |
Parliamentary Act is passed to enable construction of the new enclosed dock system on the Isle of Dogs (Stepney Marsh) |
| 1799 |
William Jessop is appointed as engineer and designer |
| 12 July 1800 |
Construction of the dock begins |
| November 1800 |
20 million bricks are ordered to build the new docks |
| June 1801 |
A further 4 million bricks are requested |
| March 1802 |
The Court appoints six night watchmen to guard the six warehouses against vandalism and theft |
| 15 May 1802 |
A military guard is appointed to the site |
| 22 July 1802 |
Six men die as a cofferdam collapses during construction of one of the basins |
| 27 August 1802 |
Construction of the Import Dock is complete |
| 1 September 1802 |
The Import Dock opens to receive shipping |
| 1803 |
The first quay opens |
| 1803 |
The Warehousing Act designates the warehouses of West India Dock as bonded |
| 1805 |
Construction of the Export Dock is complete |
| 1806 |
Construction of the warehousing is complete |
| 1806 |
City Canal is open to shipping – the first vessel through was the 500-ton 'Duchess of York' |
| 1823 |
The monopoly privilege ends |
| 1829 |
The West India Dock Company purchases City Canal |
| 1831 |
Parliamentary permission is obtained to create a new dock |
| 1838 |
The East India and West India Dock Companies amalgamate |
| 1866 |
Construction of the new dock begins |
| 1870 |
South West India Dock opens to vessels |
| 1928 |
Limehouse Basin is filled in by the Port of London Authority |
| 1940 |
Most of the warehouses are destroyed during the Blitz |
| 1968 |
Many of the warehouses are closed permanently |
| 1980 |
West India Docks closes to shipping |
| 1988 |
Construction of Canary Wharf begins |
| 1991 |
Canary Wharf opens |
| 2003 |
The Museum in Docklands opens in Warehouses 1 and 2 in West India Dock |