Vittoria Dock
Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use British English Template:Infobox docks
Vittoria Dock is a dock in Birkenhead, Wirral Peninsula, England. It was built between 1904 and 1908, from land reclaimed during the construction of the Great Float.
HistoryEdit
The dock was designed by Anthony George Lyster.<ref>Template:Harvnb</ref> Construction began in 1905, from the land reclaimed during the construction of the Great Float.<ref name="McCarron1992-97">Template:Harvnb</ref> During its construction on 6 March 1909, a temporary dam collapsed, killing 14 navvies. This incident is now referred to as the Birkenhead Dock Disaster. The dock was opened in 1909, having warehouses on either side.<ref>Template:Harvnb</ref>
The name VittoriaEdit
The dock is named after the Battle of Vittoria, fought on 21 June 1813.
An alternative view is that Vittoria Dock has derived its name as a tribute to the first ship to circumnavigate the globe, Magellan's Vittoria.<ref name="WCJ">Template:Citation</ref> However, Magellan's ship was named after the church of Santa María de la Victoria de Triana, therefore, this Vittoria naming may be questioned.
Vittoria Dock is sometimes incorrectly quoted as 'Victoria Dock', thought in reference to Queen Victoria. However, the wharf was originally known as Victoria, and the plans of 1843 include a Victoria Dock on the site.<ref name="McCarron1992-97" /> Although, when acquired by the Liverpool Corporation, the site may have been renamed to avoid confusion with Victoria Dock.<ref name="McCarron1992-97" />
In useEdit
Between 1937 and 1941, HMS Conway, a training ship, was based here. Between the 1920s and 1970s, the Vittoria Wharf terminal was operated by Clan Line Steamers Ltd. The southern quayside was operated by Blue Funnel Line Ltd.,<ref name="Collard p.111">Template:Citation</ref> which loaded two or three ships each week, destined for the Far East.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> The Brocklebank Line, Houston Line and the Scottish Shire Line also used the dock.<ref name=Greenwood76>Template:Harvnb</ref> The dock was extended west in 1960,<ref name=Greenwood76 /> and fell into disuse as container shipping came into use.<ref name="WCJ" />
When the Warship Preservation Trust closed in February 2006, most of its exhibits, which included the Template:Sclass HMS Plymouth and wooden-hulled minesweeper HMS Bronington, were later moved to Vittoria Dock for safe storage.<ref>Template:Citation</ref>
FutureEdit
The dock is included in Peel Group's £4.5bn Wirral Waters redevelopment. The Baseline Study of July 2008 has been endorsed by Wirral Borough Council.<ref>Template:Citation</ref> In February 2009 the initial stage of the planning application for the first major mixed-use development masterplan/quarter was submitted.<ref>Template:CitationTemplate:Dead link</ref> The development would be expected to take up to 30 years.
GalleryEdit
- Benkid77 Ships, Birkenhead docks 090809.JPG
Various ships berthed at Vittoria Dock.
- Crane Gantry, Vittoria Dock, Birkenhead (geograph 2961431).jpg
The Robert Smith Steel loading gantry.
- HMS Plymouth, Vittoria Dock, Birkenhead (geograph 2961430).jpg
Template:HMS laid up at Vittoria Wharf.