Page:The National Gazetteer - A Topographical Dictionary of the British Islands, Volume 2.djvu/628

Rh LIVERPOOL. 620 LIVERPOOL. Horsey. The Manchester dock is a small irregularly- shaped basin, where flats from Manchester load and unload. The Canning dock, 500 yards in. length, was originally a dry dock, but has been lately converted into a wet one. It was built in 1738, and is chiefly used by vessels from the N 1. coast. Two graving docks and a half-tide dock arc connected with it. The Salthouse dock was opened in 1753. The place where it stands was originally occupied by saltworks, from which it has taken its name. Its size is 720 feet. by 290. Ships are laid up in the upper end, and the remainder is used by vessels employed in the Levant, Irish, and coasting trades. The Albert dock, between the Salthouso and the river, was opened by Prince Albert in 1840. Its size is 700 feet by 400, and it ia surrounded by fireproof warehouses. The Duke's dock is a small dock built by the late Duke of Bridgewater for the use of canal boats. Wapping Dock is about 270 yards by 50, and is con- nected with a basin. Below this is the King's dock, 270 yards by 95, opened in 1788. It is adjacent to the Queen's Tobacco Warehouse, and is the only place where ships laden with tobacco arc allowed to unload. A floating chapel for seamen is moored in the N.W. corner. The Queen's dock, 415 yards by 100, was opened in 1796, and is used by timber ships, and Dutch, Baltic, and West India merchants. It communicates on the N. with the Queen's basin, to which arc attached two graving docks, and at the S. with the Union and Coburg docks. Near the graving docks there arc large ship- building yards. Adjoining the Union is the Brunswick dock, 430 yards by 140, opened in 1832, and used exclu- sively for the timber trade. A half-tide dock connects it with the river, and there arc two graving docks and a ship-building yard at the southern end. Near this is the Toxteth dock, about 200 yards in length, and higher up the river the Harrington and Egerton, both about the same size as the Toxteth. They are used for rafting timber from the Baltic and from America. A clock master is appointed to superintend each dock, with a body of dock police under him, and there are two har- bour masters who exercise a general supervision over the shipping. The affairs of the harbour are managed by a committee of 21 persons, called the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board, who meet weekly, or oftcner if requisite. It consists of 13 trustees, elected by the common council, and 8 ratepayers, resident in Liver- pool, elected by the merchants and shipowners. In October, 1862, this board agreed to apply hydraulic power to the gates at the Wellington half-tide dock, the Huskisson locks, the Sandou dock entrance, and the outer storm gates at the two last-named docks, and also to provide two hydraulic capstans on the pier heads of Sandon basin, at an estimated cost of 9,205. It was found that great advantage would result to the working of the trade of these docks by the application of hydraulic power ; that the gates by this means could bo opened or closed in three minutes, whereas by the old system half an hour was occupied in the performance of this operation ; and that after hydraulic power was applied to the gates they could be kept open for the admission of shipping for twenty minutes longer than at present. The harbour, as defined by a royal commission, 8th November, 1723, extends "from the Bedstones in Hoy- lake, at the point of Wirral, southerly, to the foot of the river called Ribble water, in a direct line northerly, and so upon the S. side of the river to Hesketh bank easterly, and to the rivers Astland and Douglas there, and so all along the sea-coasts of Meols and Formby, unto the river Mersey, and all over the rivers Mersey, Irwcll, and Weaver." The entrance to the harbour is much ob- structed by shifting sandbanks, which aro marked out by buoys and lightships. There are also lighthouses on Formby point, and at Crosby, on the Lancashire coast, at Bidstone and Loasowc in Cheshire, and one called the Hock lighthouse at the entrance to the river, also on the Cheshire side. The number and size of the docks enu- merated above will give some idea of the extent of the commerce ^carried on at Liverpool. The trade with America, in cotton, tobacco, and sugar, is the chief staple of the port, but there is a very large trade with all parts of the world for every article of merchandise. The value of the exports is about one-half that of the exports of the United KiJigdom, and the amount of cotton imported. is greater than that imported at all the other ports. The manufactures are principally connected with shipping, but there are in addition extensive sugar refi- neries, tobacco and soap. manufactories, potteries, glass- staining works, iron and brass foundries, and mills for grinding corn, colours, and dyers' wood. Chronometers and watches are also made in great numbers both at Liver- pool and Prescot. The streets of Liverpool aro mostly broad and well paved ; and in the centre of the town, as Dale-street, Lord-street, Castle-street, Church-street, and Bold-street, the building and decorations of the shops are equal to the best streets o_f the metropolis. The dis- trict nearer the river is occupied by extensive warehouses and offices. The neighbourhood of Prince's Park, as well as Everton, Wavertree, and Aigburth, and the more re- mote suburbs, abound with country houses. The town is well supplied with cabs and omnibuses, and the road which runs along the side of the docks is provided with a tramway for the use of omnibuses. Liverpool possesses some very handsome public buildings. St. George's Hall, in Lime-street, is unequalled in England. It contains a large hall used for concerts, public meetings, balls, &c., a smaller concert room, two rooms used for the crown and assize courts, and numerous offices and other apart- ments. The size of the whole building is 500 feet in length by 175 in breadth, and 1 12 in height. The form is rectangular, and the style adopted ia the Corinthian. The S. fa9ade, facing St. John's-lane, is a portico con- sisting of twelve columns, 45 feet in height by 4J in diameter, in two rows of eight and four. These are surmounted by a pediment containing a group of symbo- lical colossal figures, designed by Cockerell, and executed by W. G. Nicholls. On the entablature below the following inscription is chiselled : " Artibus Legibus Consiliis locum Municipes constituerunt. Anno Domini MDCCCXI.I." A flight of stone steps leads up to the portico. The eastern facade, facing the Lime-street railway station, is 420 feet in length. A row of pilas- ters is carried along the entire front, while a project- ing colonnade of 17 columns occupies the central space of 200 feet. The N. front projects in the form of a semi- circle, containing the concert room already mentioned. This room measures 86 feet by 70, and is 42 feet high. The stage will accommodate sixty performers, and tlirva is space in the room for an audience of 1,200. The panels of the wall are painted to imitate rich wood, and are divided by gilding. Mirrors also form an important part of the decoration. The great hall is 169 feet by 74, and 84 in height. The vault of the roof is decorated in panels, and intersected at the sides by lateral arc-lies, supported by columns of porphyry 3 1 J feet in height and 3 feet in diameter, the spaces between which will be occupied by statues. The floor is composed of tilos, designed for the hall, consisting chiefly of local dcv and is raised a few inches for a considerable width r the edge of the room ; but when the hall is used for dancing the centre thus sunk is brought to the ; level as the circumference by covering it with a boanlnl floor. The largest organ in England stands in a gallery at the N. end. This instrument was built by Willis of London, under the superintendence of Dr. Wesley, organist at Winchester Cathedral. A steam engine of six horse-power works the bellows. The ventilation ' f the hall is very perfect, and is carried (Jut by means of perforations in the floor, connected with a system of pipes 7 miles in length, through which either hot or air can be introduced. The crown and nisi prius e; aro fine rooms, measuring 55 feet by 50, and 45 iii height. The fittings and wainscot are of oak. The foundation stone of the hall was laid on the 2Sth of June, 1838, and the public opening took place on S tember 18, 1854. The townhall, situated at thi ;:i: of Dale-street, Castle-street, and Water-street, was built in 1749, but partially destroyed by fire in 1795, when it was rebuilt, at a total cost of 110,000. It ib buiit in