This information has not been published before.*

A map surveyed by Thomas Steers [engineer of the Liverpool's Old Dock] dated 1709.

This map represents the surveying work he did for the owners of Howland Great Wet Dock, Rotherhithe, London, and is possibly the last work [in his own hand] that he did in London before commencing work on the Old Dock, also in 1709. The bottom right of the map shows 1/2 an acre of land that he had assigned to himself.



Interestingly, 'the name 'Norris' also appears on the map. It is indeed Richard Norris, one of the two architects behind Old Dock's conception; the other being Sir Thomas Johnson. At least one of Liverpool's city fathers leased land close to Howland Great Wet Dock, and would have been well aware of it's potential. This dock could hold 120 merchant vessels, Liverpool had planned for 100.

Thomas Steers' map 1709, Rotherhithe [below].*



Howland Great Wet Dock, Rotherhithe, London 1696-1698. The map above refers to the parcel of land lower right of the illustration, dated 1717 [below] which features 'Bedford Street', 'Thames Street' and 'Russel Street' listed on the map.


The difference between the Rothehithe Dock and Liverpool Old Dock, is that Liverpool exploited the commercial potential of the wet dock system by providing warehousing close by, and unloading/ loading the ships whilst in harbour.

Both images courtesy of the City of London Archive.