Situated on the bank of the Thames near central London, Greenwich was once a hub of industrial activity, with bustling docks and hundreds of manufacturing, maritime, and riverside trades. The waterway itself is relatively quiet now, and while the area’s rich past is very much still evident – with its royal associations and status as a World Heritage Site making it a popular tourist destination – much of Greenwich’s industrial history is being swept away by new developments. This book examines the people who lived and worked in Greenwich over the years, highlighting the huge part that various occupations and industries have played in the area’s history.
The short volume traces Greenwich’s history from its early Anglo-Saxon fishing industry through to the regeneration of the area in the 21st century, encompassing the vast range of industries that flourished here in the past, from shipbuilding, whaling, and trade and export, to commercial businesses making everything from large guns to glucose syrup. Generously illustrated with modern photographs and historical images, this arresting publication paints a vivid picture of working Greenwich through time.
Greenwich at Work: people and industries through the years, David C Ramzan, Amberley Publishing, £14.99, ISBN 978-1445697024
Review AB.
