Then and Now

The PLA and Port of London have changed dramatically over the past 100 years.  This section gives an insight into how things have changed through photographs, facts and news of the day.

Click on the links below to view a series of "Then & Now" images that illustrate some of these changes.

• Cargo handling

• PLA activities

• PLA boats

• Shipping

• Thames Riverscape 

Other changes

Cost of living:

Typical ships in the Port of London

1909 - SS Moldavia,passenger/cargo ship, 158 metres long, 17 metres wide

2008 - Cap Cleveland, container vessel, 222 metres long, 30 metres wide

Total tonnage of cargo passing through the Port 

1909 - 18 million tonnes

2007 - 52.7 million tonnes

Other news in 1909..........

DNA discovered

Selfridges store opens in London's Oxford Street

Tennis star Fred Perry, football legend Matt Busby and actors David Niven, Douglas Fairbanks Jr, James Mason and Errol Flynn are born

Edward VII is on the Throne and Herbert Henry Asquith is Prime Minister

Manchester United takes the FA Cup, beating Bristol City 1-0

Harlequins  beat Richmond  in the first rugby football match to be played at Twickenham Stadium