London's docklands were built as the Pool of London had reached capacity and trade was increasing at an inordinate rate. Private companies built these enclosed docks, such as the East India Company and the Surrey Commercial Docks Company. The Parish Registers of the Churches in the counties and London Boroughs that bordered the Thames contain a wealth of information about your ancestors who worked there. To find out more about these companies, the history of the Thames and those people who worked upon it, please see the links below.