Prince's Dock, Liverpool facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Prince's Dock |
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Prince's Dock, Liverpool Waterfront
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| Location | |
| Location | Liverpool, United Kingdom |
| Coordinates | 53°24′32″N 2°59′56″W / 53.40889°N 2.99889°W |
| OS grid | SJ336908 |
| Details | |
| Owner | The Peel Group |
| Operator | Mersey Docks and Harbour Company |
| Opened | 1821 |
| Type | Wet dock |
| Joins |
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| Area | 11 acres (4.5 ha), 3,889 sq yd (3,252 m2) |
| Width at entrance | 45 ft (14 m) |
| Quay length | 1,613 yd (1,475 m) |
Prince's Dock is a special area for ships on the River Mersey in Liverpool, England. It is part of the big Port of Liverpool. This dock is the furthest south in the northern part of Liverpool's dock system. It connects to Prince's Half-Tide Dock to the north. Today, Prince's Dock is also close to one of Liverpool's World Heritage Sites.
The Story of Prince's Dock
Building the Dock: A Royal Opening
Building Prince's Dock started around 1810. The main builder was a man named John Foster. The dock was named after the Prince Regent, who later became King George IV.
Even though it wasn't fully finished, the dock officially opened on 19 July 1821. This was the same day the Prince Regent was crowned King George IV. Back then, ships could reach the southern docks by going through George's Basin, then George's Dock, and finally into Canning Dock.
A Special Journey: The Mimosa Ship
In 1865, a very important ship called the Mimosa sailed from Liverpool. On board were 153 Welsh settlers. They were going on a long journey to Patagonia, a region in South America.
Today, about 50,000 people in Patagonia have Welsh family roots from these original settlers. In 2015, a special monument was put up at Prince's Dock to remember these brave settlers.
Changes Over Time: New Land and Railways
Over the years, parts of the dock area changed. In 1874, George's Basin was filled in. Then, in 1899, George's Dock was also filled. This new land was used to create what is now known as the Pier Head.
A railway station, Liverpool Riverside Station, opened on 12 June 1895. It was located right between Prince's Dock and the River Mersey.
End of Ferry Services
For many years, ferries used Prince's Dock. In 1968, a new car ferry service started from a different dock further down the river. However, passenger-only ferries continued to use Prince's Dock until 1969.
All ferry services from Prince's Dock finally stopped in November 1981. This happened when P&O Ferries closed their overnight service from Liverpool to Belfast. After this, the dock was closed to large ships and partly filled in.
Modern Changes at Prince's Dock
New Buildings and Spaces
Since 1988, Prince's Dock has been changing a lot. Many of the old shipping areas and warehouses have been replaced. Now, you can find:
- Three large office buildings along the river.
- The Malmaison, a modern 128-room hotel that opened in 2007. It stands next to the Crowne Plaza hotel.
- Three blocks of modern apartments.
Connecting Canals
The dock was partly filled to make it suitable for smaller canal boats. It was also divided into two sections. A pedestrian bridge, designed by a team from Liverpool John Moores University, now connects these two parts.
By March 2009, a big project was finished. It extended the Leeds and Liverpool Canal by 1.4 miles. This created more waterway for boats. A new lock and a fixed bridge were built at the northern end of Prince's Dock.
At the southern end, a new canal tunnel was built. This tunnel goes under St. Nicholas Place and the road for the new Liverpool Cruise Terminal. From Prince's Dock, this canal extension passes the Pier Head and ends at Canning Dock.
Future Plans: Lexington Liverpool
In 2016, plans were approved for a very tall building called the 34-storey Lexington Liverpool. This shows how the area continues to grow and change.
Liverpool Cruise Terminal
The Liverpool Cruise Terminal first opened in 2007. It allows large cruise ships to visit Liverpool.
New Cruise Terminal Plans
To bring even more visitors to Liverpool, the city council shared new plans in September 2017. They want to build a brand new cruise terminal right on the banks of the Mersey at Prince's Dock. This new terminal would be where the wooden landing stage is now.
The new terminal would let ships carrying up to 3,600 passengers dock in Liverpool. It would have special areas for passport control and a cafe. There are also hopes to build a multi-storey car park and a hotel at Prince's Dock as part of this exciting project.
