A series of contracts, agreements and specifications relating to the London Docks, especially the London and India Dock Company and the Conservators of the River Thames, collected by Charles Edward Clifton Townsend, river engineer for the Port of London Authority. These relate to various vessels and pieces of equipment that were to be employed by the dock companies and give detailed information about the materials that were to be used, the facilities that had to be provided and the equipment that was to be utilised. There is also a contract relating to work undertaken on the extension of the Victoria Dock, what would become the Royal Albert Dock, giving costings of the work to be undertaken, along with daily wages for the workmen to be employed.