The Docks were built on the corner of the Wirral where the River Birket cut off the corner and flowed into Bidston Moss which was the boggy area separating the various stretches of high ground – Wallasey, Bidston, Caldy, Heswall etc. It enable docks to be constructed with a minimal amount of investment. Varoius acts of Parliament in the mid-19th century enabled the docks to be completed. With the increased size of shiops and containerisation of goods the docks became less viable by the turn of the 19th/20th century.
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Entrance Docks: The main entrance from the River Mersey is at Alfred lock. This can only be accomplished at high tide due to the fast flow past the narrowest part of the river where the locks are situated. Note the major railway complexes in this area with LMS and GWR sidings. There is also the goods complex at Cathcart Street, adjacent to Vittoria Dock entrance. The lairage was used for animals coming from Ireland in the main. There is a pumphouse on the river for topping up locks. Also, where the four bridges are located there kis the hydraulic pump house for the operation of the bridges.
Kobenhavn entering the Alfred lock: In 1924 the large sailing ship Kobenhavn (Copenhagen) docked and there is a photo of this in the Museum collection. We, therefore, decided to include it in the model. By 1924 most if not all of the sailing ships would have disappeared from the Mersey.
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East and West Floats and Duke Street Bridge: This area includes the grain warehouses on the East Float, including Spillers, and opposite them, Vittoria dock where Alfred Holt’s blue funnel ships, Harrison Lines and Clan Lines were commonly seen. The West Float is the largest dock and had a coaling area. On the north bank is the Cheshire Lines warehouses. Ellerman Lines ships facilities were between Duke Street Bridge and the grain warehouses.
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West Float: On the West Float were the three graving docks used by Cammell-Laird’s shipbuilding yard. At the very end was the Mobil petroleum complex and storage area.On the north bank was Cubbins small boat yard and the gas holder. The Rank flour mills were on the southern bank. Bidston dock, completed in 1933 does not appear on the model but was to be situated beyond the end of the Float on the opposite side of the ‘Penny Bridge’ which was a toll road in the past.