Originally Posted by
Lian
it was named after prince albert
div>
only joking (although it was)
it could not provide deep enough water for the new steam ships and trade started to decline during the 1890’s therefore being left idle shortly after until its closure in 1972
Not quite. The size and depth of the dock was fine – in fact the dock is quite big with large ships being able to turn in the dock – the south end docks were smaller than the larger north end docks, yet they were still quite big with quite large ships entering them. The odd large ship still enters Albert. Steam ships required more quay space to load and unload for larger cranes to operate. It was designed for sailing ships which could take the cargo right out and into the warehouses. Roof mounted cranes were considered but thought too costly and I think the structures could not hold the weights involved. The warehouses were always used. The cargo was taken from ships in other adjacent docks to the Albert Dock.
Dukes Dock next to Albert had a unique grain warehouse that was near 200 years old when demolished in the early 1960s. The city has done some appalling acts of historical vandalism in its time.
Dukes Dock is now filled in and a concrete stadium and a multi-storey car park being built upon it.
Bookmarks