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From The Illustrated
London News - Saturday, April 3, 1847 |
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Opening of the Birkenhead Docks |
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| Monday will be an eventful day for the fast rising town of Birkenhead, on
the shore of the Mersey, immediately opposite Liverpool. It is then proposed to open, with
great ceremony, the Birkenhead Commissioners' Docks and the Dock Company's
Warehouses, an extension line of the Chester and Birkenhead Railway to the Docks and the
Park. Here are alike prospects of business and recreation for many years' realization. The
proceedings, we learn, from an official programme, will commence by the Birkenhead Dock
Commissioners, the Birkenhead Improvement Commissioners, the Directors of the Birkenhead
Docks (Warehouses) Company, the Directors of the Birkenhead, Lancashire and Cheshire
Junction Railway, and the Directors of the Cheshire and Birkenhead Railway, receiving Lord
Morpeth on board a steamer lying off Monks' Ferry, which will then proceed past Woodside
Ferry Pier, and the whole extent of the Dock Works, and enter the Birkenhead Docks by the
Woodside Basin. After passing through the Woodside and Bridge End Docks, the steamer wull
moor alongside the south wall of the latter, when the party on board will disembark, and
then proceed to the Warehouses, where a Déjeûner will be provided for a company of eight
hundred.
After the Déjeûner, Lord Morpeth will proceed to open the Park, the distance from the
Warehouses to the Grand Entrance being about half a mile, The quays of the new Docks will
be lined with the several clubs, the pensioners' and other bands, flags, &c.; and,
after the opening of the Dock, they will proceed to the Park, so as to be in waiting to
receive Lord Morpeth.
In the evening, a Ball and Supper will be held in two of the warehouse rooms, and a
display of fireworks will take place; and rural sports and amusements will be provided in
the Park in the course of the afternoon.
Next week, we intend to illustrate these festal proceedings. Meanwhile, we present our
readers with a substantial specimen of the Birkenhead progress - the New Market, nearly
approaching in extent the vast market of St. John's at Liverpool. In the Birkenhead
structure, iron has been employed wherever available; and the result is great security
combined with a more ornamental character than, under normal circumstances, have been
attained. |
BIRKENHEAD MARKET
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From The Illustrated
London News - Saturday, April 10, 1847 |
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Opening of the Birkenhead Docks and
Park |
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BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF BIRKENHEAD
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Another glory on the Mersey's side:
A town springs up as from a magic wand.
Behold those noble docks - amerchant's pride,
And the fair park extening o'er the Strand
The gallant bark that often had defied
The wild Atlantic, may no longer dread
The treacherous shore: in safety now 'twill ride
Within the waters of fair Birkenhead.
Good, great, and glorious is the work. The bond
A brotherhood between two worlds, hereby
Is knit more closely; and affections fond
Will spring up where before frown'd enmity
Success to Birkenhead - its commerce, trade,
And may true worth its people's heart pervade
L. |
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| On Monday last, a portion of the immense docks at Birkenhead was opened
with the éclat befitting such an important incident, and a vast concourse of persons
assembled to witness the ceremony. The works thrown open form but a small part of the
magnificent and comprehensive scheme, but what has already been accomplished gives a
goodly promise of a speedy completion of a most useful and efficient series of docks, the
promotors of which may hope, at no very distant day, to see them, on account of their
extensive usefulness, worthy of being associated in importance with those on the other
side of the Mersey. Birkenhead may now be said to have entered into competition, or rather
into articles of partnership, with Liverpool, the great north outlet and inlet of our
foreign and transatlantic trade. At any rate, it will henceforth divide the palm with
Liverpool, and participate in the prosperity and profit derivable from its immense
mercantile marine. Birkenhead may fairly be looked upon as of Liverpool lineage and
alliance, and having been literally called into life by that leviathan of trade itself in
its effort towards finding an ampler field for the accomodation and convenience of its
over-grown trade. Birkenhead will now become a sort of chapel of ease for the redundant
commerce of the mother port, and probably there is no port in the kingdom, not excepting
Liverpool itself, that presents such grand natural facilities. A few years hence, and
Birkenhead will become a second Liverpool, launched upon the Mersey; for time was when, at
the beginning of the eighteenth century, Liverpool itself, now the entrepôt of
all our trade with the Americas and Indies, was simply a fishing village. The same a few
years since might be said of Birkenhead. At present it is not even mapped out as a
town upon the Mersey, a few years ago, |
Whereon it stands
The vacant winds did whistle, and the laugh of sunshine
Sported in wild freedom. |
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| Both are probably the finest examples on record of the brilliant results
of unfettered British enterprise. Anciently the settlement and consolidation of a town was
the work of generations; now, thanks to steam, they spring up and prosper with all the
rapidity of the famed ice palace of the Queen of Russia. Great advantage may be expected
to accrue to the public and frequenters from froeign ports from the generous emulation
that will be established between the old and the new ports, and in a few years the
northern, no less than the eastern arm of the Mersey, may be expected to be the seat of a
crowded and busy community. It will give no insignificant idea of the immenseness of
Liverpool, that it extends for three miles along the Mersey., and is upwards of a mile in
depth. Liverpool has for years had at her command a comprehensive and splendid chain of
railways, and unsurpassed port facilities. Upon these Birkenhead is only just entering.
Monday gave England, in the latter respect, a new point of ingress and egress to the
western seas; but Birkenhead will have to wait awhile for the completion of her railways.
It is true that she has long had one, but this is less than half what she wants. Ere long
she will be the very "rosette" of railways, for, in addition to the existing
Chester and Birkenhead, she will have the Birkenhead, Lancashire and Cheshire Junction,
operations on which have just been commenced by the contractors in real ernest, and which,
in addition to drawing all the commerce of the manufacturing districts of Yorkshire and
Lancashire to the Mersey, will give to Birkenhead the mineral trade of Wales, the salt
traffic of Cheshire, the immense products of the potteries, besides having with Holyhead
the traffic to Ireland. If Rome was not built in a day, Birkenhead, by a figure of speach,
assuredly has been. We have in it a great mercantile community, with all its moral and
commercial apparatus springing simultaneously and almost magically into action under the
vivifying power of English enterprise. We have it put in possession, at the same time, of
docks for forests of foreign masts, with warehouses for hiving their wares, and with a
railway for their transit to inland homes. |
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OPENING OF THE DOCKS
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| To enable a large party from London to attend the entertainment an
express train was harnessed for six o'clock, and started precisely at that hour from the
splendid station of the London and North-Western, at Euston Square. The arrangement under
the superintendence of Capt. Huish, the superintendant, and Mr. Brookes, the
traffic-manager, were excellent. The train worked its way at a slashing pace, time and
space apparently being secondary things - say at forty miles an hour - to Liverpool, with
as much ease, and apparently in as little time, as it would take to peregrinate between
Hammersmith and Hampstead. Having breakfasted in London, the next consideration was that
of practically achieving of luncheoning at Liverpool. There were five first-class
carriages to the express train, and two luggage-vans, weighing together 32 tons. To draw
this special load, one of Stephenson's long-boiler engines, with an outside cylinder, and
seven feet driving-wheel, was selected. The line was understood to be laid out for the
special performance of this engine, and it was anticipated that she would make a splendid
run to Birmingham, (a hundred and twelve miles) in two hours and a half, and to Birkenhead
(two hundred and twelve miles) in five hours, at forty-two miles to the hour; but , owing
to the over-straining of the staple works of the engine in order to attain the attempted
velocity, the cylinder became heated, which prevented its accomplishment. It is only fair
to state, that a strong lateral wind prevailed the whole way, which presented, of course,
considerable retardation. At ninety-three miles up the line, which from starting at 6 A.M.,
was reached at 13 minutes past 8, the cylinder gearing became red-hot, and the speed was
slackened to 8 or 10 miles an hour, the old coach average, for several miles, and for some
distance to 3 or 4 miles an hour. Close upon Birmingham this engine came to a dead stop,
and it was found necessary to supersede her by a new pilot engine, and lay her up in the
locomotive hospital. Ultimately, the train fell foul of Birmingham at 28 minutes past 9,
doing the distance, 112 miles, in 3 hours and 5 minutes, or at a rate of 40 miles an hour.
The train, after stopping 13 minutes, started from Birmingham for Birkenhead at 16 minutes
past 9, passing Stafford and Crewe, where there is a splendid new station, built in the
Elizabethan style, and at a minute or two past 12, the train, amidst the mingled artillery
of its own rattle, salutes from six-pounders and the artillery of tongues, made a triumpha
entry into Birkenhead, amid strains of "See the Conquering Hero comes", to throw
open |
THE DOCKS |
Here the scene was truly splendid and imposing. The immense estuary of
the Mersey, one of the noblest arms of the sea in England, was mirrored over with
multitudes of masts and men - with steamers stemming its tumultuous tide, with vessels of
all climes sleeping tranquilly on its surface, bellying at intervals with their white
wings to the breeze. It was a scene of animation such as the waters of Liverpool have
never seen before, nor perhaps ever will see again, burdened with all the beauty of which
both Birkenhead and Liverpool could boast. The proceedings of this part of the
inauguration were commenced by the Birkenhead Dock Commissioners, the Birkenhead
Improvement Commissioners, the Directors of the Birkenhead Dock (Warehouses) Company, the
Directors of the Birkenhead, Lancashire and Cheshire Junction Railway, and the Directors
of the Chester and Birkenhead Railway, receiving Lord Morpeth (the Chief Commissioner of
Woods and Forests), Lord Lincoln, and other distinguished visitors, on board a new steam
packet, the Lord Warden, built by Mr. John Laird, which was in readiness at
Monk's Ferry.
The Lord Warden is a beautiful iron steam-vessel, just completed, under
the superintendence of Mr. Morrison, the foreman of Mr. Laird. She is a companion to the Clementine,
of quick-sailing celebrity, and is expected to prove a clipper. She is now fitting out in
Trafalgar Dock.
Leaving Monk's Ferry, the Lord Warden, with the party on board, proceeded,
amid vociferous cheering and music, past Woodside Ferry Pier, and the whole extent of the
Dock works, and entered the Birkenhead Docks by the Woodside Basin.
The two docks already constructed are the "Passage Dock", near Woodside
Ferry, and the "Bridge End Dock", now so called from its being on the site of a
small valley, formed originally by a rivulet, or more correctly by a creek, or armlet of
the sea, the tide having passed up it, under a bridge, time out of mind.
The walls of both of the new Docks are built of red freestone, principally quarried
on the ground, and with ashler bindings. There are a number of arches (facing the river)
of the upper Dock, on each side of a tongue forming a quay running westward, which protect
the mouths of the sluices, intended to scour out the Great Basin, yet to be constructed on
the east. These arches, apparently about twenty in all, and also the piers, are
beautifully built of Bolton and Longridge stone. |
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ENTRANCE TO THE PARK
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| Steamers were plying between Liverpool and Birkenhead the whole day, and
carried thousands, at 2d a-head. The shops in each place were nearly all closed, and the
day universally observed as a holiday. The Docks are two in number, forming part of the
grand scheme which, in all its comprehensive details, has so long occupied public
attention. The extent of shipping accommodation afforded by these Docks alone will equal
that of Prince's Dock, and no doubt is entertained that they will almost immediately be
called into active operation. A procession was then formed and proceeded to |
THE WAREHOUSES |
Amongst the number being Viscount Brackley; Colonel Bell; Sir Philip
Egerton; Lady Egerton; Mr. Egerton; Mrs Legh; Sir Thomas Fremantle and family; the Rev. R.
M. Fielden and family; T. Grimsditch, M.P.; F. H. Goldsmith, esq.; Count H.D. Avigor; Lord
Ingestre; Honourable Wellington Talbot; George Cornwall Legh; Earl of Lincoln; Lord
Monteagle; R. Neville, M.P.; Professor Owen; R. N. Phillips; Mrs Phillips; Major Robe,
R.A.; Peruvian Consulate and Lady; Hon. E. H. Stanley; E. J. Stanley; T. Thornley, M.P.;
Captain H. Vyner; Baron and Baroness Goldsmid; Russian Ambassador; Peruvian Minister;
Henry Thomas Hope, esq.; the Mayors and Town Clerks of Manchester, Salford and Chester;
and the Consuls representing the different powers in Liverpool. Twelve of the warehouses,
each capable of holding 4000 bales of cotton, are already completed. They have been
erected in the best style of workmanship, by Messrs. Hilton and Morris, and will form
three long tiers, running rectangularly from the shore. They are two stories in height,
and are, in every respect, highly convenient and substantial. Along the lower story of
each warehouse run two lines of iron pillars, the floors being laid with asphalte cement.
The stairs leading up to the upper story are of iron, and projecting from the upper
windows are hoisting cranes. In fact the whole is furnished with every requisite to make a
warehouse valuable and complete.
The Superintendent of the Dock Warehouses is Mr. W. H. Slomon, late of the
Southampton Docks, and formely of the East and West India Dock, London. |
THE RAILWAY |
| The extensive line of railway from Grange-lane to the Docks has been
formed in an incedibly short space of time, and, although in a somewhat rough state, was
sufficiently advanced to allow of its opening at the same time. It runs in a diagonal
line, by means of an open excavation across the town, from the Grange-lane station through
Oliver-street, Conway-street, Price-street, and Cleveland-street, and continuing along the
Dock Warehouses even to the water's edge. This arrangement affords facilities and
advantages which few railways or few docks enjoy. From the main line branches run along
each side of the warehouses, one side will be made available for the storing of goods by
vessels just arrived, the other for conveying goods to vessels loading for sea. The rails
run so close that the goods can be hoisted direct from, or lowered into, the trucks, and
thus all confusion and necessity for carting will be avoided; neither will there be delay
or hazard from exposure on the quays. |
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OPENING OF THE PARK
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THE OPENING OF THE PARK |
The park, which was thrown open to all, is a splendid enclosure, and has
been formed at a cost of £127,775. A refreshment tent was fitted up, 170 feet long; and
various other booths, camps, &c were erected. Cricket, football and other athletiv
games, rural sports, and divers amusements, occupied the holiday throng in that vast and
picturesque arena. An efficient committee of the most respectable tradesmen had undertaken
the superintendence of this portion of the day's proceedings, and nearly all the tradesmen
of the town, in addition to a holiday, agreed to give each person in their employ
half-a-day's wages. The programme of these sports comprised sack-races, pig-chases,
pole-climbing, and, with a variety of other rare and spleen-curing sports, "a
foot-race for women of all ages!". The far-famed Lancashire Bell-ringers were
engaged, and were placed in the Boat-house, on one of the beautiful serpentine lakes; and
the effect of their melodious notes added considerably to the interest of the scene.
The new Market, on which a sum of £26,000 has been expended, likewise presented
its attractions. Of this we gave an engraving last week. On the east quay of the new
Docks, facing the river, six pieces of ordnance were placed, for the purpose of firing
salutes; the cannons being under the management of a detachment of the Royal Artillery
from Chester Castle.
No procession was formed, but the quays of the new Docks were lined with the
pensioners, the several clubs and societies with theur bands, flags, &c.; and, after
the opening of the Docks, they proceeded to the Park, to be in waiting to receive Lord
Morpeth. A stand was erected on the west side of the Bridge-end Dock, capable of holding
1200 persons. |
THE BREAKFAST |
For this entertainment four of the warehouse-rooms, each 140 feet long
and 50 feet wide, were beautifully and tastefully fitted up with pink and white drapery,
by Mr. Shaw 81mw, upholsterer, of Birkenhead, assisted by Mr. Hornblower and Mr. Brine,
architects. The suite included reception, retiring, and refreshing, ball and banquet
rooms. In the former, a magnificent cascade, furnished, by Mr. Highfield, Mr. Jackson’s
manager, sent forth a silvery and refreshing jet, amidst a profusion of choice
conservatory plants and flowers. The walls of all the rooms were lined with alternate
white and pink, arranged in the Grecian tent style, and finished round the top with Roman
drapery. The prevalence of pink shed a rich and warm light into the rooms. The ball-room
was furnished with an orchestra in the centre, its walls decorated with four stars. The
banqueting-room had a very gay appearance. In addition to drapery decorations, the roof
was decked with evergreens. A high table, 140 feet long, ran along the side, at which the
Chairmrn, with the dlstinguished guests, were arranged. Transversely were about twenty
lower tables.
About 600 persons were present. The chair was taken by Mr. Bailey, Jun., M.P.
supported by Lord Morpeth, Earl of Lincoln, Lord Monteagle, and other eminent individuals.
The usual loyal toasts having been proposed,
Lord Morpeth was received with great acclamation. He assured them he felt sincerely
the kind and cordial manner in which the toasts had been received. Ever since he had been
called to that office which he now held, of First Commisioner of Woods and Forests, and
which connected him with the property of the Crown, he had felt the strongest interest in
the rising fortunes of Birkenhead. They were probably aware that besides the general
interest which the Crown might be supposed to take in all that was represented by the
abstract idea of its subjects, it had also motives not so purely abstract or disinterested
for meaning well to the port and town of Birkenhead. He avowed this the more readily, in
asmuch as it was quite obvious that the proportion In which the undertakings here set on
foot could become profitable mnst be according to the degree In which they were made
available to the accommodation of commerce and the public good. The Chairman had alluded
to his (Lord Morpeth’s) visit to America, and he could only say, In reply, that he
hoped the ports of Birkenhead would be instrumental to the relief of an afflicted country
by importing from them the crops which line the rich banks of the Ohio and the innumerable
streams of the mighty Mississippi. He hailed it as a good omen, and hoped that the first
use of the ample basin through which their vessel that day had for the first time glided,
and all those striking and startling specimens of engineering skill and admirable natural
resources by which It was surrounded, would be consecrated to the admitting the surplus
harvests of foreign fields, and make provision for the bread that keeps alive. Next in the
progress of time - he hoped in the course of the ensuing autumn - they would be able to
bear their part in accommodating the timber trade and without proceeding through the long
vistas of usefulness and enterprise, and of the success which he trusted would attend on
Birkenhead, he hoped that the proceedings of that day eloquently foreshadowed an
auspicious commencement, and a powerful impulse. He would only express a hope that the
best feeling would always prevail between them and the great city immediately opposite
them - Liverpool - which divided with London the supremacy of the commerce of the world
and, so London could not but feel benefited by the improvements of Southwark, as Liverpool
could never have cause to repine at the prosperity of Birkenhead; and, even should the
majestic Mersey become lined with a double line af docks, be trusted that there would
never he more than room enough for the corn that waves in the western hemisphere. He
trusted that they had that day forged another link in that chain of amity which ought to
connect England with America. While they remembered that Rendel had constructed their
Docks, they had also had a Paxton to lay out their promenades, and they were one of the
first cities which had given a sympathetic attention to the great subject of the public
health. He hoped that, when the pageant of the day had passed away, it would still leave
them ground to remember that it had not been a triumph which gained ita trophies from the
strife of nations or the engines of destruction.
Lord Lincoln rose amid cheers to propose "The Commerce of the Mersey;"
and expressed a hope that the only rivalry that would exist between Birkenhead and
Liverpool would be for their common interest. The Oregon, a large American
vessel, had that day entered their harbour, freighted from abroad with guano, to fertilise
the broad acreo of Cheshire.
Lord Menteagie proposed "Manchester and the Manufacturing Interests," and
dwelt emphatlcally on the improvements that had been effected in the sanatory system of
the districts, and remarked upon the great advantage it would be to other towns to follow,
in this respect, the example of Liverpool and Birkenhead.
Subsequently, the "Members of the County," the "Chairman," the
"Birkenhead Docks," and other toasts of a local character were proposed, and
responded to briefly. Mr. Toole officiated as toastmaster, with great spirit.
A spectal train atarted from Birkenhead at six, with the visitors from London, and
arrived at the Euston terminus at twelve, accomplishing the distance of 212 miles in the
short space of six hours, making a total area of space run over during the day of 424
miles, a feat for the first time accomplished in the annals of steam, and ranking amongst
its most remarkable achievements.
At seven o’clock there was a magnificent display of fireworks near the Dock
gates. At eight o’clock the warehouse-rooms were thrown open for a ball and supper.
Horabin’s quadrille band was engaged for the ball, where a novelty was introduced by
Mr. Turvey, professor of music, called the "Birkenhead Qnadrilles." The ball was
opened, by Mr. J. Bailey, M.P., and Mrs. Shaw, of Arrows; the company were received by
Mrs. Bailey.
Medals, commemorative of the opening were struck off, and presented, to Lords
Lincoln and Morpeth. The workmen to the number of 2000 had each a day’s pay.
The celebration was attended by vast crowds; 58,000 persons being carried over by
the Woodside ferry-boats. |
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