Originally Posted by
Soreofhing
Hello again
Since my unforgetable trip half way around the world to the town of my forebears (Liverpool) two years ago, I have been mulling over an idea.
So now I'm starting to write a historical adventure novel which starts off in 1862 in Liverpool.
Good luck to you with this project. Sounds like a fine idea for a book. I have written several novels myself though they remain unpublished. I have had more luck with historical nonfiction books.
div>
Note that the time period you have chosen was during the American Civil War (1861-1865). You might know that some of the
Confederate blockade runners were built on Merseyside. A plot idea for you might be to have your South America-bound vessel stopped by a U.S. Navy vessel whose commander might suspect the ship is headed across the Atlantic with supplies for the Rebels.
Originally Posted by
Soreofhing
My character wants to set off for Argentina. I have a few questions:
1 I understand that the sailing vessels for South America sailed from Waterloo dock.
Waterways has answered you on this. I have no inclination to think that ships bound for South America would only sail from Waterloo Dock. In fact I am sure a number of docks handled ships in the trade with South America.
Originally Posted by
Soreofhing
2 Where would the ticket have been bought? From a ticket office? Where? I read somewhere that an Irishman negotiated the price of his ticket directly with the ship's captain. So where would this have taken place? Did the ticket include the passenger's name on it?
The shipping lines would have had downtown offices or agents that sold tickets.
Originally Posted by
Soreofhing
3 Did/do the docks have a wall around them, to restrict entry? If so how high? Stone or red brick?
Yes stone walls some 12 to 14 feet high. You should be able to find photographs. I worked as a clerk at Wapping Dock one summer while I was in school in Liverpool. Check out Joe Neary's fine photographs of the Liverpool Docks here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/exacta2a/2050375004/
Originally Posted by
Soreofhing
4 Where would the cotton porters have gone to be hired on a daily basis? Outside the dock gates? Who hired them? A "foreman" or what was his title?Which docks? What was the going daily rate for a cotton porter in 1862?
The dockers were, and as far as I know still are, "hired" for the day within the dock gates. Common labourers between 1851 and 1869 earned from ten shillings and sixpence to twelve shillings and sixpence a week. See information on
Victorian web on Navvymen: Strikes, Truck, Cash (as you may know a common laborer was known as a "navvy"). The site also gives modern money equivalents
Originally Posted by
Soreofhing
Sorry to be such a pest but I want to get it right.
best regards
No problem, Soreofhing! Glad to be of some help with your interesting project. Once more, good luck with it, mate. Keep us posted on how you progress.
Chris
Bookmarks