London and Blackwall Railway
Originally called the Commercial Railway, the London and Blackwall Railway (L&BR) in east London, England, ran from Minories to Blackwall via Stepney, with a branch line to the Isle of Dogs, connecting central London to many of London's docks. It was operational from 1840 until 1926 and 1968, closing after the decline of inner London's docks. Much of its infrastructure was reused as part of the Docklands Light Railway. The L&BR was leased by the Great Eastern Railway in 1866, but remained independent until absorbed into the London and North Eastern Railway at the 1923 Grouping. Another branch was opened in 1871, the Millwall Extension Railway.
Original bridge at Limehouse on the London and Blackwall Railway. It now carries a branch of the DLR. The iron fencing being partially open was a feature of the line which was popular with passengers, as it gave a quieter ride than the reverberating brick walling of the nearby London and Greenwich Railway. This section of line was one of those to carry an iron roof when steam locomotives were first introduced.
Minories station on the LBR, circa 1840. The winding drums and Cooke-Wheatstone “needle” telegraph instrument (left foreground) are shown. Note the lever-operated brake to keep the cable taut during unwinding.
Minories is the name of a small former administrative unit, and also of a street in central London. Both the street and the former administrative area take their name from the Abbey of the Minoresses of St. Clare without Aldgate.
Minories, the street in 2010.
Holy Trinity Minories parish boundary marker
