Vittoria Dock
Encyclopedia
Vittoria Dock is a dock
in Birkenhead
, Wirral Peninsula
, England
. It was built between 1905 and 1909 within the Great Float
.
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.
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
.
collapsed, killing 14 navvies. This incident is now referred to as the Birkenhead Dock Disaster
.
Between 1937 and 1941, HMS Conway
, a training ship, was based here. Between the 1920s and 1970s, the Clan Line
and Blue Funnel
shipping companies had loading facilities at the dock. The dock fell into disuse as container shipping came in to use.
When the Warship Preservation Trust
closed in February 2006, most of its exhibits, which included the Rothesay class frigate
HMS Plymouth
and wooden hulled minesweeper
HMS Bronington
, were later moved to Vittoria Dock for safe storage.
's £4.5bn Wirral Waters
redevelopment. The Baseline Study of July 2008 has been endorsed by Wirral Borough Council
. In February 2009 the initial stage of the planning application for the first major mixed use development masterplan/quarter was submitted. The development would be expected to take up to 30 years.
Dock (maritime)
A dock is a human-made structure or group of structures involved in the handling of boats or ships, usually on or close to a shore.However, the exact meaning varies among different variants of the English language...
in Birkenhead
Birkenhead
Birkenhead is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral in Merseyside, England. It is on the Wirral Peninsula, along the west bank of the River Mersey, opposite the city of Liverpool...
, Wirral Peninsula
Wirral Peninsula
Wirral or the Wirral is a peninsula in North West England. It is bounded by three bodies of water: to the west by the River Dee, forming a boundary with Wales, to the east by the River Mersey and to the north by the Irish Sea. Both terms "Wirral" and "the Wirral" are used locally , although the...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It was built between 1905 and 1909 within the Great Float
Great Float
The Great Float, is a body of water on the Wirral Peninsula, England formed from the natural tidal inlet, the Wallasey Pool. It is split into two large docks, East Float and West Float, both part of the Birkenhead Docks complex. The docks run approximately inland from the River Mersey, dividing...
.
The name 'Vittoria'
The dock is named after the Battle of Vittoria, fought on 21 June 1813 and was designed by A.G.Lyster.An alternative view is that Vittoria Dock has derived its name as a tribute to the first ship to circumnavigate
Circumnavigation
Circumnavigation – literally, "navigation of a circumference" – refers to travelling all the way around an island, a continent, or the entire planet Earth.- Global circumnavigation :...
the globe, Magellan's
Ferdinand Magellan
Ferdinand Magellan was a Portuguese explorer. He was born in Sabrosa, in northern Portugal, and served King Charles I of Spain in search of a westward route to the "Spice Islands" ....
Vittoria.
However, Magellan's ship was named after the church of Santa María de la Victoria
Victoria (ship)
Victoria was a Spanish carrack and the first ship to successfully circumnavigate the world. The Victoria was part of a Spanish expedition commanded by the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan, and after his demise during the voyage, by Juan Sebastián Elcano...
de Triana, therefore, this Vittoria naming may be questioned.
Vittoria Dock is sometimes incorrectly quoted as 'Victoria Dock', thought in reference to Queen Victoria
Victoria of the United Kingdom
Victoria was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India....
.
History
During its construction on 6 March 1909, a temporary damDam
A dam is a barrier that impounds water or underground streams. Dams generally serve the primary purpose of retaining water, while other structures such as floodgates or levees are used to manage or prevent water flow into specific land regions. Hydropower and pumped-storage hydroelectricity are...
collapsed, killing 14 navvies. This incident is now referred to as the Birkenhead Dock Disaster
Birkenhead Dock Disaster
The Birkenhead Dock Disaster was a tragedy that happened when a temporary dam collapsed during construction of the Vittoria Dock in Birkenhead, Wirral Peninsula, England, on March 6, 1909. It left 14 workers dead and three injured. The disaster led to a huge public outpouring of sympathy and...
.
Between 1937 and 1941, HMS Conway
HMS Conway (school ship)
HMS Conway was a naval training school or "school ship", founded in 1859 and housed for most of its life aboard a 19th-century wooden battleship. The ship was originally stationed on the Mersey near Liverpool, then moved to the Menai Strait during World War II. While being towed back to Birkenhead...
, a training ship, was based here. Between the 1920s and 1970s, the Clan Line
Clan Line
The Clan Line was a passenger and cargo shipping company that operated in one incarnation or another from the late nineteenth century and into the twentieth century.-Foundation and early years:...
and Blue Funnel
Blue Funnel Line
Alfred Holt and Company, marketed as the Blue Funnel Line, was founded by Alfred Holt on 16 January 1866.The main operating subsidiary was the Ocean Steam Ship Company, which owned and operated the majority of the company's vessels....
shipping companies had loading facilities at the dock. The dock fell into disuse as container shipping came in to use.
When the Warship Preservation Trust
Warship Preservation Trust
The Warship Preservation Trust was based in Birkenhead, Wirral, England and hosted Europe's largest collection of preserved warships.The collection was brought to Birkenhead in 2002 and was moored in the West Float of the Birkenhead docks complex....
closed in February 2006, most of its exhibits, which included the Rothesay class frigate
Rothesay class frigate
The Rothesay class, or Type 12M frigates were a class of frigates serving with the Royal Navy, South African Navy and the New Zealand Navy....
HMS Plymouth
HMS Plymouth (F126)
HMS Plymouth is a Rothesay class frigate, which served in the United Kingdom Royal Navy from 1959 to 1988. She was named after the English city of Plymouth...
and wooden hulled minesweeper
Minesweeper (ship)
A minesweeper is a small naval warship designed to counter the threat posed by naval mines. Minesweepers generally detect then neutralize mines in advance of other naval operations.-History:...
HMS Bronington
HMS Bronington (M1115)
HMS Bronington is a Ton-class minesweeper of the Royal Navy, launched on 19 March 1953. This mahogany-hulled minesweeper is one of the last of the "wooden walls" ....
, were later moved to Vittoria Dock for safe storage.
Future
The dock is included in Peel GroupPeel Group
The Peel Group is a diversified real estate, transport and infrastructure investment company in the United Kingdom. It has assets owned and under management approaching £6 billion...
's £4.5bn Wirral Waters
Wirral Waters
Wirral Waters is a large scale £4.5bn development that has been proposed by the company Peel Holdings for Birkenhead, on the Wirral Peninsula, England...
redevelopment. The Baseline Study of July 2008 has been endorsed by Wirral Borough Council
Metropolitan Borough of Wirral
The Metropolitan Borough of Wirral is a metropolitan borough of Merseyside, in North West England. It has a population of 311,200, and encompasses of the northern part of the Wirral Peninsula. Major settlements include Birkenhead, Wallasey, Bebington, Heswall, Hoylake and West Kirby. The city of...
. In February 2009 the initial stage of the planning application for the first major mixed use development masterplan/quarter was submitted. The development would be expected to take up to 30 years.