Reports from our Talks Programme
By Peter Keen

2. Thursday, January 29th - Liverpool's Old Dock and the Birth of the Maritime City - A talk by Jamie Quartermain, Project Officer of Oxford Archaeology North team

Readers will recall that the development of Liverpool's new shopping precinct revealed the survival of the city's early Wet Dock which had been instrumental in creating the city and its port. The area excavated was greater than that of the wet dock and other features of historical importance were revealed, as described by Jamie Quartermain of Oxford Archaeology North at our January members' evening.

Historians are familiar with the exploits of Joseph Williamson, the 'Mole of Edge Hill' who gave unemployed men the dignity of work by having them excavate a network of chambers and tunnels through the sandstone beneath the city. Although the churchyard where he was buried was known, his precise burial place was not, since his church disliked the commemorating of one individual above others and there were other unmarked burials in the churchyard.

Investigation in advance of the development has located his family vault with his coffin as the last interment. His coffin, along with all those buried, was exhumed for re-interment in consecrated ground elsewhere.

Excavation of the Chavasse Park area revealed a complex of cellars which had survived the blitz. The tremendous heat generated by the fires had 'fossilised' some of the walls yet a timber floor survived, singed but intact. In one cellar corner were the remains of a lift with the old metal trelliswork twisted but recognisable.

Foundations of complete streets were found, such as Crooked Lane, with evidence of other streets below them, sometimes on different alignments, demonstrating the long term occupancy of the site. Artefacts found included bottles (melted), stonework and even papers.

Those of SCARS who have been working on the wheel pits of the slitting Mill at Blackbrook found them somewhat overshadowed by the huge size of the pits for the fans which used to ventilate the railway tunnel beneath the Mersey. Located to the north of Canning Dock, the engine house with a fan on either side was most essential in the early days of the Mersey Railway when motive power was provided by steam engines. Later of course, electric traction was introduced and such massive fans were no longer needed. Scour marks on the sides of the pits revealed that two sizes of fans had been installed, presumably the smaller one was later, could cope with a smaller demand and was cheaper to run.

Excavation was able to identify the method of building the new docks, out into the river. Coffer dams were first installed to leave a dry site after which piles were driven down to solid ground to provide a firm foundation for the dock walls. These were built up quite independently of other structures, then back-filled to create the new dock side. The coffer dams were then removed, water could be admitted and the dock brought into use. Unlike the Old Dock with its timber bracing, all the newer ones were formed this way, reclaiming land and creating safe water for shipping. Henry Berry would have been familiar with this process.

Seawards of this fan-house was Manchester Dock, an isolated dock opening into the river, which was originally a dry dock then converted to a wet dock to accommodate flats and sea going vessels. Quaysides, gates, culverts and cobbled surfaces were all revealed by the archaeologists but sadly were to disappear beneath the new museum building which is due to open later this year. To the south of Mann Island were revealed the foundations of some housing on the dock side. Whilst they were small and of poor quality, at least they had the advantage of having the workplace literally on the doorstep.

In the last nine years then, more archaeological investigation has been carried out than ever before, adding greatly to the records or in some cases clarifying or changing previous assumptions. A visitor centre is planned which will exhibit the history of the area and will offer the public the opportunity to see part of the Old Dock, the catalyst which created the port and led to the present city, and all within a couple of centuries.

Index for this issue     Index of all Canal Cuttings issues      Home Page

Site design and content © 2002 - 2009 Sankey Canal Restoration Society
Canal Cuttings Editor: David Long Site design: Phil D.Long