London's Port & River Heritage Royal River

In its heyday London was Britain's premier port. The Port of London Authority (PLA) controlled 94 miles of the tidal Thames, presiding over the great dock systems and hundreds of wharves. The six films featured here capture London's Docklands in all their glory from the 1920s to the 1950s.

'The Royal River' (1953) provides a record of the Thames preparing for the Coronation in 1953. 'Coronation Day' (1953) provides a brief account of the Queen's Coronation, and the Queen and Prince Philip boarding the Royal Barge with liveried Thames Waterman at Greenwich Pier. In 'Royal Visit '59', the Queen, accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh, tour the PLA's Head Offices in Tower Hill and then go on to inspect London's Docklands.

'Thames Tideway' follows the cargo passenger liner Port Lyttleton out of New Zealand as it first discharges its passengers at Tilbury and then passes through the King George V Lock to unload its cargo in the Royal Docks. Finally, 'Port of London 1929' captures the great dock systems of London in all their glory at the end of the 1920s, with aerial film of the Royal Docks and an array of ships on display.