Lock Entrance to Dock
Point 12
Photo possibly Levers Archives? The Matadi Palm negotiating the lock. Named after the Port of Matidi on the Congo River. Note the lock gate in the recess in the dock wall.
The remains of the lock entrance to Bromborough Dock can be seen in the curve in the wall for the lock gates, the bollards, capstan and pulley wheels and the two tide gauges showing the height of water (in feet); one for the river and the other for the dock.
When it opened by Lever’s, in 1931, the largest private dock in the world, it brought in Feldspar from Norway, wood from Scandinavia and tropical woods from West Africa, palm and coconut oils; and whale products. Ships would enter and leave on the high tide.
Mooring on the ‘Wall’ was not allowed but now there are two berths for ships in the river at Mersey Wharf. At low tide, their hulls rest on the silt. This is called NAABSA berthing (Not always afloat but safely aground) It requires a flat soft area for the ship to rest on when the tide goes out. Otherwise the ship can be damaged.
Whale Oil was a part of margarine production at Stork in Brombrough.
It was only the almost extinction of many species of Whales in the 1960 -70's that led to most countries banning whale hunting.
Margarine saved the whale industry in 1869 when it was used as a cheaper substitute for butter. German per capita consumption was 17.5 pounds per year in 1930, and led to the merger of Lever Brothers and Margarine Unie to create the Unilever company, once the world’s largest purchaser of whale oil.
Carl L POINT 12.mp3It was really a very busy dock. I mean The tugs were forever in and out. I go there now and sit on the benches by the lock, what was the lock and I look at where we used to tie up. It’s just amazing really. I love the park. I could never conceive it. We used to visit me sister when we were lived away and they were building this mountain you know and she was always on about it, ‘Look at that bloody monstrosity!’
And now when you see what they created, you know…I just wish I was fit and able. I can only go round on my scooter. I think it’s a wonderful thing. Something had to be done with that dock because it was that polluted. I should imagine all that pollution is still under it.
I noticed something interesting, ships are discharging on the Wall there as well now. The Wall…. That’s only developed since the docks shut down as far as I know. Because they all used to come in the dock.
I think that park is wonderful. It’s the first park that I know which was created in my lifetime and that it something else. And if people haven’t visited, they should visit and see what actually can be done with one of the most polluted places on earth. It really was.
Carl L. Tugboat deckhand
Bruce Blything extracts dredging and Sand Swallow.mp3Access to the dock, the river had to be dredged outside the main gates to allow those large ships to come in. In order for the large ships to come in constant dredging needed to take place. It does not take place now as the large ships don’t come in. The docks now in Liverpool are now centred on Seaforth and the container port. Containers weren’t heard of at that stage.
I had a great privilege to go out on the Sand Swallow. The Sand Swallow was Lever’s own dredger. It dredged the dock it had a grab, and it took the mud out of the bottom. I used to go out, what they used to do was when it was full, they would have a big tank on the deck. They would open the dock gates and out we would go. We went to what is called the Bar. Its right out where the Mersey meets the Irish Sea (where the wind turbines are now) They would discharge the mud and bang, out it would go. That was a small craft, it had a crew of about 4 or 5. I used to go out on that regularly
Bruce B
The Sand Swallow
The official opening of Brombrough Dock. Note the Lock as the boats enter the Dock
In WWII huge Maunsell Forts were constructed in the river alongside Brombrough Dock. They were then moved into the Mouth of the Mersey to defend Liverpool from attack. They never saw active service, unlike ones in the Thames Estuary.
Historian Dan Snow has a trip to the London Maunsell Towers
Directions to next point
With your back to the Mersey walk past the dinghies to the post near the fence.
