Graving Dock No.1, Clarendon Quay, Belfast, Co Antrim, BT1 3AL

Graving Dock No.1 at Clarendon Quay, Belfast

This is a disused graving dock aligned east-west, positioned at right angles to the west side of Clarendon Dock and south of Graving Dock No.2. The dock has a sub-rectangular plan with a rounded west end and a lock gate at its east end providing access to and from Clarendon Dock.

The north, west and south sides of the dock are lined with sandstone steps descending to the flat bottom. These steps served as props to prevent vessels from toppling over once the dock was drained. Running down the sides are inclined slides, which functioned as miniature ramps to transport equipment and materials to and from the dock bottom during ship repairs. There are five such slides distributed around the dock: two at the west end, one in the middle of the north side, one at the northeast end, one at the southeast end, and one in the middle of the south side. Some slides have been topped with concrete and timber boards. Alongside each slide is a flight of steps with a single-bar metal handrail leading to the dock bottom.

Just beyond the slide in the middle of the south side is a hand-operated winch fitted with a small metal roller guide mounted on the edge.

At the east end of the dock is a pair of timber lock gates set within sandstone block walls laid to courses. The walls contain recesses to accommodate the gates, with smaller recesses for the sluice gate mechanisms when the gates are open. At the very outside end of the side walls are vertical slots for stop timbers, which could be dropped into place when the gates required maintenance. This end is edged with granite blocks.

A replacement cantilevered metal footway runs across the tops of the gates on their outside faces, fitted with a five-bar steel handrail on each side. This footplate facilitates movement across the dock and provides access to threaded rods for opening and closing a single vertical sluice in each gate, which allowed the dock to be filled once a vessel was inside and the gates shut.

Each gate is operated by hand winches. The winch mounted on the dock side of the north gate bears the inscription "To lift / direct / 20cwt" and is marked "Fellows Bros Ld / Engineers / Cradley Heath". The seaward winches, which opened the gates, were positioned on the gates themselves; the southeast winch also bears the maker's name "Fellows Bros Ld / Engineers / Cradley Heath".

A safety railing runs around the dock, comprising two detachable chains supported on slender cast-iron posts. Two metal posts of unknown function stand towards the east end of the dock's south side. At the top of the slides at the east end are removable steel cover plates of unknown function.

Arranged along the north side of the dock are three fluted swan-neck cast-iron lamp standards, originally lit by gas and now electrified, with "Harbour Commissioners" inscribed around their bases.

In later years until recently, the dock was emptied by an electric pump housed in a small building just north of the east end of the dock.

Setting

To the immediate east lies Clarendon Dock, which has a lock connection to Belfast Lough. The area immediately south of the dock has been landscaped with grass and ornamental trees, where three anchors and a ship's propeller are displayed. The area to the west and north has been paved with stone flags. The former pump house, subsequently refurbished as offices for Laganside Corporation, stands aligned parallel with the dock on its north side. A functioning pump house is located between the east ends of both docks.