Gates No. 8 and No. 10 to the Western Docks

The two gateways, built in a stripped classical manner with Moderne detail, are identical in design. Narrow in section, they have rectangular pre-cast concrete block plinths with exposed aggregate and with curved arrises. These support rusticated red brick piers in the form of pairs of pilasters, laid in English bond with recessed pointing. The piers support a broad, flat concrete beam in the form of an entablature with a projecting moulded cornice and are surmounted by stylised concrete capitals each with a framed concrete panel bearing the gate and berth number. In the centre of the entablature is a clock in a stepped surround with a square clock face below a hood moulding on each elevation. The clocks are no longer working. Each gateway is approximately 10m high and approximately 18.4m in width to the outside of the piers.

The signage on the front of the entablature originally read SOUTHERN RAILWAY/DOCKS in metal letters. On Dock Gate 8 this has been altered to ASSOCIATED BRITISH PORTS (some of the lettering is missing) whilst Dock Gate 10 bears the legend ASSOCIATED BRITISH PORTS/ PORT OF SOUTHAMPTON. The framed panels bear the berth and gate numbers respectively. In the case of Dock Gate 10, some of the original lettering survives on the panels on the rear face.

As originally built, three iron piers under the entablature divided the space into two pedestrian entrances and two central vehicular entrances (all with iron gates). In the case of Dock Gate 8 these appear to have been removed by 1945; the outer two piers and the gates survive on Dock Gate 10.

On the front face of the northern pier of Dock Gate 8 is a bronzed metal memorial plaque presented to the Southern Railway by the US Army in commemoration of the military personnel who embarked from the port in World War II. The inscription reads: 1939-1945/ THIS TABLET WAS PRESENTED TO THE SOUTHERN RAILWAY BY THE / 14TH MAJOR PORT, UNITED STATES ARMY, IN PROUD AND GLORIOUS/ MEMORY OF THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE FORCES OF THE/ UNITED NATIONS WHO SAILED FROM THIS PORT DURING THE GREAT/ WAR AGAINST AGGRESSION TO SECURE THE FREEDOM OF MANKIND/ DEO J. MEYER COLONEL TC SHERMAN L KISER COLONEL TC/ DEPUTY PORT COMMANDER PORT COMMANDER. This is included on the UK National Inventory of War Memorials: reference 21625.