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Liverpool Water Front
The history of Liverpool as a port stretches
back 800 years, when the "pool" was deemed to be a suitable place for a safe
anchorage from which King John could conduct his Irish campaigns. The port
grew slowly but prospered greatly on a disreputable triangular trade route
between North America, Africa and the Port of Liverpool. Manufactured goods
form Manchester were taken to Africa and traded for slaves. This miserable
human cargo was then taken to the Southern States of America and cotton was
brought back to complete the trip and feed the cotton mills of Lancashire.
Great wealth was created and the Liverpool Waterfront reflects these times.
The huge growth of trade resulted in the creation of jobs and a massive
influx of other nationals, particularly the Irish fleeing from the potato
famine of the 1840's. The through put of travellers on their way to the New
World also led to many remaining behind in the area.
The centrepiece of the Liverpool Waterfront is the Three Graces. These
consist of the Royal Liver Building (1908-1911), the Cunard Building (c1915)
and the Port of Liverpool Building (1907). Other important landmark building
include the White Star Line Building, the company under whom the RMS Titanic
sailed and moving down river the Albert Dock Complex, the new Customs and
Excise HQ, the Brunswick Dock Development. All these are presided over by
the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King and the Anglican Cathedral,
which is dedicated to St James, started in 1906, and the largest Anglican
Cathedral in the World.
During World War II the Port of Liverpool was the destination of the North
Atlantic Convoys that had battled their way through the German U-Boat packs.
The restored control rooms in the basement of one of the city building are a
memorial to the brave mariners of that period. Liverpool hosted the 60th
Commemoration of the Battle of the Atlantic in 2003 when a flotilla of
vessels escorted the carrier HMS Invincible into the River Mersey. It was to
be the last memorial service for this phase of history with only a dwindling
number of veterans still living and able to take part in the event.
The best views of the Liverpool Waterfront are to be had from the Wirral
side of the Mersey, a short ferryboat ride away. It is from here that the
panoramic images of the scene were made. The full sweep of the river extends
from the new 12 Quays RoRo Ferry complex right around to the Woodside Ferry
Terminal, a distance of more than 10 miles. |
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