Genealogy Chat

hello I am looking for information On the West/East Indian docks, mainly in the 1940's. My husbands Grandfather Ah Sze Yang, came over to England via these docks from China, we have no dates other than the 1940's to research, so finding any record of him may be near on imposible! We know that in 1946 he was living at number 76 West India Dock Road, with Doris May Rushton and hes new born baby. Unfortunatly as he was a China man he isnt on the Electerol Role. Does anyone know of any searchable Indexes relating to 'foreign Sailors' in and around the West/East India Docks. I know, its a heck of a long shot, but we are running out of opptions. I have tried obtaining a death/marriage certificate, but they are having great dificulty in finding them. Anyway, any help or suggestions greatly appreciated, thank you Sarah

Sarah There is a brand new museum to do with the East India docks in one of the old warehouses in Canary Wharf. I live nearby and will see if any info available there.

Also If he was chinese there was and still is a large Chinese community in the area. I know there is a lot of info on this community as I have seen an exhibition of photos etc a few years back. I doubt if the address is still there but I will check. There are mainly tall tower office blocks round that area now.I have to go to Myddleton House sometimes soon and see what thet have on the subject.

Okay Sarah, I have phoned the local library to find out if there are local records. Unless he did something remarkable and appears in the news papers they do not have anything. But he did say that the immigration records are at the Public records office Kew in the National Archives. He suggests giving them a ring. You should find the no.on the website in one of the many links. I have looked on the a-z but the old West India Dock rd is well gone,it is now the main road into Canary Wharf. The museum I told you about is a stones throw away from it. I know from the old museum there are loads of photos etc.

Wow Ann! Thankyou so much, all your effort is totally appreciated. I will most definatly phone the public records office, I knew you could visit there, but I wasnt sure about phonning them, so I will do that this afternoon! Thats really exciting about the museum too, I would love at some point to visit there. If you do manage to have a look, I would be extremly grateful. I have just found out today that The India Docks feature again in our family, this time on my mothers side. Her Uncle Tony (Blake) was sadly killed whilst working on these docks in the late 1960's. Its a shame the West india Dock Roads, aint there no more, as this is the only known link we have. Although i have managed to find an old digital post card/photo of the road. Also would you know if the Old police station still exists there (it was in W/India Dock Road)? I am sure that I read somewhere that is is a listed building. Anyway, thank you very much, Best Wishes Sarah

Sarah I will check the old police station but a lot of the area has long gone. The old ledger building is restored and is a wetherspoons. The museum is in a huge Warehouse supposedly the oldest in the county, it also contains lots of really good restaurants with outside seating along West India Dock. ( we are going there for a meal tonight as it is my daughters 30th birthday today)also very expensive loft type appartments. East India Dock road is fairly intact but is a little bit further away from the dock.If you have trouble finding a marriage cert I will have a look for you in the next few weeks at Middleton House.Were they married in 1946 and was the child born then the first born.

Ann, If you dont mind, I will email you now with the info! and Thank you again! Sarah

Sarah I was out and sbout this afternoon so popped into the museum. The Old Police Station on West India Dock road is now Limehouse police station ( our local, we do have a new one on the Isle of Dogs but it is only staffed by the odd civilian) opposite it is a monument to the people of the original China Town which was in the limehouse area. I remember an exhibition in one of the london Museums about the chinese immigrants who settled round here believe the first Chinese restaurant started up in this area too. Also not much about the chinese sailors in the museum but I am going to give you the e-mail address of the chap who keeps the archives. He might be able to help and will probably have some some info on the accident if there was a fatality.Also I have a book on the island , at the moment a friend has it but I will get it back and see if there is any relevant info or photos and scan them for you.My husbands just come home and said there is a chinese community office in the Sailors Palace which is on the corner of Commercial rd and Beccles st. Where abouts are you ? Good luck Ann Ann [email protected]

bobaspinall(at)museumindocklands(.)org(.)uk remember to take of the brackets will e-mail this to you