Liverpool Docks and Waterfront

	The River Mersey at Liverpool After passing the lighthouse and fort at the entrance of the river, a few minutes' sail will bring [the stranger] to the North Docks, now in course of erection on a gigantic scale. His attention will probably be first attracted to the framework of timber extending along the line of the future river-wall, and supporting a sort of wooden railway, along which are conveyed the vast blocks of stone that are intended to form a barrier against the inroads of the tide. [...] Proceeding onwards, we arrive at the entrance to the Prince's Dock Basin, where a flagstaff indicates to the navigator when he is, or is not, at liberty to enter. This basin contains an area of four acres and a quarter, and is appropriated to the use of coasting vessels and steam-packets. We proceed from it into the Prince's Dock, through a gut, or passage, having double locks, by means of which vessels may be admitted at half-tide. The foundation-stone of this fine dock was laid in 1815, and it was opened on the day of his late Majesty's coronation, July 19, 1821. [...] The objects in the distance are chiefly ranges of warehouses recently erected, above which are seen the cupola of St. Paul's Church on the left, the dome of the Town-hall in the centre, and the spire of St. Nicholas on the right.
	The River Mersey at Liverpool Between the wall which encloses the Prince's Dock, and the river, a spacious terrace has been left for the accommodation of the public. At high-water the view from this parade is exceedingly interesting, as it embraces not only the scenery on the opposite shore, but a great variety of vessels of all dimensions, amounting sometimes to two or three hundred in number. The building which occupies nearly the central station in the plate, and from which smoke is seen to issue, was a steam -engine house, for grinding the lime used in the construction of the docks, and for setting in motion two cast-iron cranes, fixed at a very considerable distance on the margin of the quay. [...] The forest of masts, which next presents itself, indicates the situation of George's Dock, one of the most convenient in the port. It was completed, according to the original plan, in the year 1771, but has been since altered and enlarged. [...] It communicates by a basin with the Prince's Dock to the northward, and with the Dry Dock and the Salthouse Dock to the southward. On the east side of George's Dock stands a magnificent range of warehouses, on the site of the former Goree warehouses, which were destroyed by fire in 1802. On the west side stand the New Baths, opened to the public June 8th, 1830, occupying a portion of a most extensive quay, which is defended from the river by a pier-head very substantially built. A broad flight of stairs, of the hardest granite, occupies the site of a six-gun battery, which formerly terminated the line of river-wall northward. About the centre of this plate, and in the background, is seen the elegant Spire of St. George's Church, 'lifting its tall head' where once the Castle of Liverpool stood, a happy substitution, and most characteristic of the progress of society.
	The River Mersey at Liverpool At the quay, in front of the New Baths, which is the first object that presents itself in this plate, the steam-packets that ply to the opposite ferries, as well as those trading to North Wales, the Isle of Man, Ireland, &c. receive and disembark their passengers. They were first introduced into the Mersey in 1815, since which time they have become so numerous as to have almost entirely superseded sailing vessels in the conveyance of passengers. [...] Leaving the Baths on our way southward, we pass a small basin appropriated to the flats of several companies of carriers, then the entrance to the Manchester Dock, belonging to the proprietors of the Mersey and Irwell Navigation, and conclude this portion of the view at the entrance of the Dry and Salthouse Docks.
	The River Mersey at Liverpool The ship-building yards which are exhibited in this plate, are situated between the river and the Salthouse Dock, and have long been occupied for their present uses. [...] The large warehouse, which occupies the centre of the plate, belongs to the estate of the late Duke of Bridgewater, who caused this building to be erected, and a dock, contiguous to it, to be constructed, for the accommodation of the vessels employed in trading along his line of internal navigation. [...] Farther south is shewn the King's Tobacco Warehouse [...] situated between the river and the King's Dock. [...] A gravelled terrace, extending the whole length of the King's Dock, lies between the warehouse and the river, and commands a fine view of the opposite shore. The entrance to the basin of the King and Queen's Docks immediately succeeds, and the view is terminated by the Herculaneum Pottery, which successfully competes with the great manufactories of Staffordshire, both in the quality and cheapness of its wares.
	Prince's Dock On the 19th of July, 1821, [...] [the dock] was opened with much ceremony. This Dock, yielding in extent to the Queen's Dock only, [...] is enclosed within a lofty brick wall, at the north end of which is a dwelling- house, with suitable offices, for the dock-master. The quays are spacious, and are provided with sheds, to shelter the merchandise from the effects of weather. Along the west side, nearest the river, runs the Marine Parade, [...] from which a delightful view of the shipping is obtained.
	Duke's Dock The Dock, and contiguous warehouses, shewn in the engraving, are the property of the executors of Francis Egerton, late Duke of Bridgewater, and were constructed for the use of the flat-bottomed boats which ply on the Duke's Canal, and for the reception of merchandise. The Duke is said to have projected an extensive plan of canal navigation before he was of age, which, on coming to his fortune, he began to put into execution. [...] About the commencement of the present century, the Duke's Warehouses were constructed for the use of merchandise brought into the Docks. These works (shewn in the engraving) form one of the bustling scenes of Liverpool, which strike a visitor with surprise and admiration. The fore-ground of the view is occupied by Wapping, the continuation of which, running north and south, extends, to a distance of nearly three miles, along the whole range of the Docks, and is constantly crowded with all the noisy vehicles of commerce, and a moving tide of people. Further on in the engraving, are seen the Quays, laden with the rich treasures of the internal trade of the country.
	The Goree Warehouses The extensive range of Warehouses, called Goree, occupying the site of those mercantile depositories which, in 1802, were entirely destroyed by fire, were loftier, by two stories, than the present buildings. The conflagration occurring at a time when the warehouses were stored with property, the consequences were most ruinous [...], [a] dreadful calamity, the total loss of which, amounted to £323,000. The ruins continued burning for upwards of three months, when preparations were made for clearing the ground, for the erection of the present Goree warehouses. The Docks and Commercial Offices of Liverpool form the grand features of this modern Carthage, and claim the first attention of the stranger. The warehouses, shown in our view, occupying a very considerable space of ground, rise to a great height, and the spectator notices with admiration the facility with which goods are conveyed to all parts of the building. The illustrative Engraving commences in the right-hand corner with the south end of the Goree Warehouses, standing in a direct line with Moor Street, and the perspective, beginning at this point, traverses the entire front, facing George's Dock, the entrance to which is shown by the shipping on the left-hand side of the plate. The tower and spire of St. Nicholas appear above an opening, which is Water Street, and between this and the south end, before mentioned, occurs the entrance to Brunswick Street.
	The New Baths, George's Parade Since the year 1819, when the Old Baths belonging to the Corporation were taken down, no public accommodation of this kind has existed in Liverpool, except a Floating Bath belonging to a private individual, which has been moored in the stream of the Mersey, and has served, in some degree, as a substitute. This vessel is similar in construction to the Floating Baths on the Thames, but much larger and more commodious. The reservoir is eighty feet long by twenty-seven feet wide, and has a current of water continually flowing through it by means of sluices at each end. The depth of water is graduated by the slope of the floor from seven feet to three feet and a half; but swimmers, who prefer bathing in the river, may pass through a door in that side of the vessel which is not presented to the town. There are two convenient cabins, where refreshments, newspapers, &c. are provided, and the upper deck, being neatly railed, forms a most agreeable promenade. However convenient this establishment may be, [...] the Floating Bath never did, and never could, adequately accommodate so large a population as that of Liverpool in the bathing season. Accordingly, the New Baths have been constructed at the expense of the Corporation. Viewed from the river at a small distance, the West Front (exhibited in the Plate) has an elegant appearance. [...] The colonnade is extremely useful to passengers who may have occasion, in bad weather, to await the arrival of passage-boats and steam-packets. The northern end of this edifice is appropriated to the Gentlemen's Baths [...]. In the southern end are the Ladies' Baths, to which access is afforded by a separate entrance. [...] In both divisions are warm and cold private Baths, with dressing-rooms containing fireplaces. [...] Besides these and the Floating Bath, there are, on the north shore, other conveniences for bathers, generally called bathing machines. They are covered carts, similar to those used at fashionable watering-places, but here they can only be used with safety at certain times of the tide.