Last days of the working river

Picked up a copy of 'The Ladybird Book of London' (1961), featuring a fine picture by John Berry of the South bank of the Thames by Tower Bridge, at a time when there were still working docks there.

The text reads 'When we pass under London Bridge we are in the Pool of London, one of the most famous stretches of river in the world. On one hand are ships and cranes, on the other a magnificent sight: the Tower of London and, up on its hill, St Paul's Cathedral'.

The only cranes there now are redeveloping buildings rather than loading ships.