
Wapping is a neighborhood in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, Greater London, England. Its name derives from wapol, the Anglo-Saxon word for "marsh". Wapping's proximity to the River Thames gave it a strong maritime character for centuries, and it was the site of the infamous "Execution Dock", where pirates and other water-borne criminals were executed by hanging from a gibbet close to the low water mark. During the 19th century, the construction of London's Docklands led to the destruction of many houses and a 60% drop in Wapping's population. It was devastated by German bombing during World War II and remained run-down and derelict until the 1980s, when it was redeveloped with commercial and residential properties. In 2011, Wapping had 12,411 residents.