West Lock To Royal Dock Including Railings And Bollards

GRIMSBY

TA2711SE ROYAL DOCK, The Docks 699-1/5/128 West lock to Royal Dock including railings and bollards

GV II

Sea lock to Royal Dock. 1849-52, by James Rendel, engineer, with Adam Smith of Brigg as resident engineer, and Hutchins, Brown and White, contractors, for Grimsby Dock Company. York stone sides with late C20 steel capping. The lock, measuring 300 by 70 feet, with a 27-foot depth of water on the sill at spring tides, flanks the west side of the island pier on which the Dock Tower stands (qv), and is larger than the parallel lock on the east side (qv). Ashlar walls with recesses for 2 sets of lock gates and the outer flood gates, with water depth inscribed alongside in Roman numerals. The gates are C20 replacements. Alongside are small areas of York stone paving incorporating channels for hydraulic gear, twin and single cast-iron mooring bollards, and iron railings incorporating some C19 sections with column principals with ball finials. HISTORY: the Royal Dock (qv), opened in 1852, was used primarily for trade with Europe and the Baltic, and its foundation stone was laid at the site of the lock gates by Prince Albert in 1849(commemorated by the Statue of Prince Albert in front of the Dock Offices (qv). The gates, originally moved by water hydraulic power provided by the low-pressure hydraulic Dock Tower, and later by the high-pressure accumulator tower to the west (qv), are now powered by oil hydraulics. The Royal Dock and its 2 entrance locks (this one and its partner east lock) are notable for the technical innovations in dock structure and the use of hydraulic systems. The locks are believed to be one of the first major uses of hydraulic power, and the only low-pressure system of this type to be built. (Civil Engineering Heritage: Labrum EA: Eastern and Central England: London: 1994-: 52-4; A guide to the Industrial Archaeology of Lincolnshire & S.Humbs: Wright NR: Lincoln: 1983-: 16-18; University of Hull Publications: Gillett E: A History of Grimsby: London: 1970-: 214-5; Ambler RW: Great Grimsby Fishing Heritage: a brief for a trail: Grimsby Borough Council: 1990-: 17-18, 20-22).

Listing NGR: TA2778711314