The Museum of London: Docklands (is that a spreading brand?) is a folk museum, set in the least folk setting imaginable- the inhumanity of Canary Wharf. It is in a converted warehouse, with post-and-lintel wooden beams and organic wooden floors.
The content is pure local- it is genuinely about the Docklands and the cultural history of the area. It’s not a big museum, and has very little that could be called ‘art’, with the exception of some Yoruba and Benin casts, some rather nice chintzes, and some great model ships. There are quite a few paintings, but almost all are in the not-very-exciting category.There are plenty of interactive screens, audio-visuals, acted scenes and a whole section including the sights and smells of Sailortown.
The museum is a classic collection of power and property objects- it is about trading, colonialism, wealthy owners, oppression, the importing of resources of other countries, war, and the building of Empires. This isn’t explicitly addressed, but is pretty clear once you see what is on show.
The museum tackles three difficult subjects very tactfully, all things considered. The slavery and sugar goes for it in head-on and doesn’t shy from semiotics, and has genuine community involvement. The section on the canary wharf redevelopment puts both sides of the story too, and makes us remember that there were communities there, once.
The third section- the second world war- is extensive and evocatively covered, showing the genuine destruction and terror.It’s a good thing that it is well done- the museum is closed to house the German olympic admin team over the summer.
The docklands museum won’t set pulses racing over blockbuster exhibitions, but it is educational, well-curated and full of helpful staff as well as being free- all of which make it worth a visit.
