History of Limehouse

1) Limehouse takes its name from the numerous lime kilns (like the one below) located here from the 14^th century onwards. These were used to burn the chalk brought up the Thames from Kent, producing lime for London’s building industry (Winn 2012, p. 150).

2) Limehouse Lock: The Regent’s Canal was built during the 19^th century and connects Regents park with the Thames at Limehouse Lock.

3) The 21^st Century: Limehouse was hit badly during the Blitz.

4) London’s first Chinatown: Chinese sailors bringing tea settled in the area and by the 1880s Limehouse had become London’s first Chinatown (Winn 2012, p. 150 & Davies 2009, p. 230).

5) Limehouse Marina: In the late 20^th century, the derelict Regent’s Canal Docks were converted into the Limehouse Marina that we see today.

6) Literary history: ‘In 1820 the young Charles Dickens visited his godfather in Limehouse and knew the district well for 40 years… Other popular writers have been fascinated by Limehouse: Oscar Wilde in “Dorian Gray”; Arthur Conan Doyle, who sent Sherlock Holmes in search of opium provided by the local Chinese immigrants’ (Ian McKellen, http://www.thegrapes.co.uk/history.php).