The Bridge - 1861 - Erasmus+
21
Liverpool Docks Open
Birkenhead Docks were opened on Easter- Monday, with public re-joicings; also the extension of the Chester Railway to the docks, and the Park attached to the town.
On the North of Woodside Pier a large open basin for the accommodation of coasters has been constructed. At the West corner is the Woodside Dock; which leads, through a pair of gates, in a direct line to the Bridge- end Dock; and that will branch off in a. North-easterly direction to the great Floating Dock. The Birkenhead Dock Warehouse Company has laid out extensive warehouses in South Birkenhead, and has already built the first portion with an amount of space sufficient for the stowage of 80,000 tons of goods. Adjoining these warehouses, the Chester and Birkenhead Railway Company has built a new goods station. These comprised the portion of the works to be opened on Monday. Under their acts of Parliament, the Dock Commissioners have only power to levy moderate dues on the shipping admitted to the docks, none on the goods.
Great preparations had been made for the ceremonial of the opening. A festival committee was formed, comprising the heads of the Birkenhead Dock Commission and the local companies, and invitations were sent forth in all directions. All the directors and commercial bodies on the Cheshire side of the Mersey gave their workpeople a holyday, without any deduction of pay; and an immense concourse assembled on the bank of the river.
Mr. John Laird and the Dock Commissioners proceeded in the Redwing, a Government steamer, to Liverpool, to receive the First Commissioner of Woods and Forests, Lord Morpeth; who, with some friends, arrived about noon, by railway from York. In the tender they went to the Lord Warden steamer, a large vessel built by Mr. John Laird for the Dover and Folke- stone line, but now crowded with Birkenhead Improvement Commissioners, Railway Directors, and many other members of local and commercial bodies. In this steamer, the First Commissioner of Woods and Forests proceeded to open the new docks, by entering through the Woodside Basin; the Lord Warden was followed by the Redwing, the pilot-boats of the port, and the Royal. Mersey Yacht Club squadron. As the vessels entered, artillery fired a salute, and bands struck up the national anthem.
The principal steamer passed along the first dock, round the Bridge-end Dock, and landed its freight on the North Quay. Here was an elevated platform, with rising seats, accommodating two thousand ladies and gentlemen; and from this spot Lord Morpeth viewed the docks.