Last Alteration: Sunday 07 April 2013
Wapping Old Stairs
Wapping Old Stairs
Wapping High Street, London
Wapping Old Stairs is one of a number of stairways leading down onto the Thames shoreline at Wapping; previously used by fishermen selling their produce from Ramsgate (Kent), the area is also notorious for being the place where pirate Captain Kidd was hanged. The thusly named "Execution Dock" is now the site of the Town of Ramsgate pub.
How to get here:
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Underground (East London): Wapping Station - Exit the station and head west along Wapping High Street until you reach the Town of Ramsgate pub; follow the alleyway beside the pub onto the stairs. Note: station closed until 2010, bus replacement service in operation. +
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Bus: Wapping Bus Map - Route 100 or D3 to "Dundee Steet". Then walk west on Wapping High Street, and the steps are by the Town of Ramsgate Pub.. +
Access: PublicStatus: recognisableWapping Old Stairs
The Talons of Weng-Chiang (1)
Filmed: 16 Dec 1976
Opening shots of a deserted Thames bank ...
The Talons of Weng-Chiang (1)
Filmed: 16 Dec 1976
An old crone leads the police to a floating body in the river ...
The Talons of Weng-Chiang (1)
Filmed: 16 Dec 1976
The police attempt to fish the body out.
Where to walk to next?
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Wapping Pier Head (The Talons of Weng-Chiang). Turn left from the stairs along Wapping High Street to the Pier Head.
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Skin Market Place (The Talons of Weng-Chiang). Turn right from the stairs and head along Wapping High Street; Bridewell Place is on the left-hand side before you reach the station.
Additional locations as the crow flies:
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St. Katharine's Dock (The Dalek Invasion of Earth, The Talons of Weng-Chiang): 0.46 miles. 
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Curlew Street (Resurrection of the Daleks): 0.47 miles.
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Butler's Wharf (The Dalek Invasion of Earth, Resurrection of the Daleks): 0.49 miles.
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Shad Thames (Resurrection of the Daleks): 0.50 miles.
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Lafone Street (Resurrection of the Daleks): 0.53 miles.
Production Notes:
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16 Dec 1976: Conrad Asquith (PC Quick) recalls: "It was very cold night and all I had was an awful cup of coffee to keep me warm. The water was foul and I had to step into it - in those days if you fell into the Thames you had to be taken to hospital!"
Further links about the location:
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Wapping History - from Wikipedia
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Historic Pubs of East London - About the history of the pubs in the Wapping area
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Under Wapping Old Stairs - 360° image of the stairs from the BBC.
Related Stories
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The Talons of Weng-Chiang [16 Dec 1976]
Information, downloads, photographs and other media are provided for reference and for personal use only (planning visits etc.) - they remain the copyright of their respective authors and may not be duplicated on any other website or media without prior permission.
All screen captures are the copyright of the BBC and appear here as reference to illustrate the location in comparison with how it looked at the time of filming and the present day; no attempt is made to supercede this or any other copyright.
