Mill Pool, Barking

Image: © Marathon Taken: 9 Mar 2016

There had been a wharf at Barking since the founding of Barking Abbey in the 7th century- see http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/4860992 From the 14th century the trade there became dominated by fish catches. The fishing industry based at Barking became one of the largest in the country in the 18th and 19th centuries, with 220 fishing smacks registered at the port in 1850. It declined suddenly a short time later, however, when the development of railways enabled fish to be transferred rapidly to London from further afield, and the fleet was transferred to Norfolk. More information can be found about the fishing industry at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barking The Mill Pool is now much quieter than it was although some of the historic buildings have survived like the old granary, dating from 1870 - see http://www.barkinghistory.co.uk/town-quay.html and http://www.heritage-explorer.co.uk/web/he/searchdetail.aspx?id=11064 There has been much recent development on the east side of Mill Pool (on the left here) although the west side (on the right) is still largely industrial. The River Roding, which the Mill Pool is part of, is tidal here.

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