The swing bridge is across the Blackwall Basin entrance from the River Thames. Preston's Road gets its name from Sir Robert Preston (1740-1834) of Woodford, who made a fortune as an East India Company captain and owned much of the land in this area until it was bought by the dock company around 1800. Reknowned for his appetite, he was also generous in giving food and money to the poor of the area.
 
The swing bridge had replaced an earlier lifting bridge, possibly when the whole dock entrance was enlarged to allow larger ships to enter the dock. This view is looking south down Preston's Road and the houses at left are the backs of those on Coldharbour.
 
The bridge was removed and the road widened a few years after I took this picture.