NewVIc Honours and History students co-design a zine telling the story of Harland & Wolff, the largest shipbuilder in London during the twentieth century at the Royal Docks History Club.

Funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, A Voyage Through Time took a group of NewVIc students on a journey of historical discovery with Thames Festival Trust.

A Voyage Through Time: The History of Harland & Wolff in the Royal Docks was launched on Tuesday 20 September, students created a zine documenting the history of the famous shipbuilders Harland & Wolff, who were located in the Royal Docks area from 1924 until 1972. NewVIc Honours and History students researched and designed the zine which was available to pick up free on the night to all guests. The students went on a walking tour, visited archives, and undertook research into their local heritage to tell the story of Harland & Wolff in the zine.

The firm, who originated in Belfast (where they built the HMS Titanic), set up a yard at North Woolwich in 1922, where they stayed until the 1970s, building and servicing vessels, including many of those that used the docks and the river.

Elisa, NewVIc Honours student, said:

“I really enjoyed looking at maps, photos and articles in the Newham archives, as it was a new experience where I learned about the importance of using photos alongside written documents in analysing the local history of the docks and the Harland and Wolff ship building company.”

Carina Ancell and Alex Cazaly, Honours Programme Manager and Teacher of History, added:

“The Harland and Wolff 'A Voyage Through Time' project has given students a valuable opportunity to explore the history of the Royal Docks and see how the shipbuilding industry and the lives of local residents have changed over the twentieth century. We are very proud of the research students have conducted and the end product, a beautifully illustrated zine. We look forward to continuing our partnership with Thames Festival Trust and Harland and Wolff as students create a series of Tiktok videos which continue our exploration of the history of the docks.”

Find out more about our Honours Programme.

Find out more about the Thames Festival Trust Project.