DAPS - Mersey Ferries Cruise To Garston Docks

DAPS - Mersey Ferries Cruise To Garston Docks Photographs by John H. Luxton & Paul Frost
In October 2011 the Daniel Adamson Preservation Society made history when the society's fund raising Liverpool Dock and Mersey River Cruise operated by the Mersey Ferry ROYAL IRIS OF THE MERSEY became the last passenger vessel to sail into Wellington Dock, Liverpool, prior to its infilling to provide additional space for the adjoining United Utilities water treatment works. Following the success of the 2011 it was decided to attempt another first - operating a Mersey Ferry into Associated British Port's Garston Docks, a location not usually associated with passenger shipping though once a significant port for the coal and banana trades, and now one which now handles bulk cargos such as imported metals and minerals. Garston Docks were established by the St. Helens Canal & Railway Company in 1853. During the years ownership passed through that of the London and North Western Railway (L&NWR), London Midland and Scottish Railway, British Railways associated British Transport Docks Board and finally to Associated British Ports plc - the company which acquired the assets of the railway ports on privatisation. The close association of the docks with the railway network came to an end in 1987 when the railway link was abandoned. There are three docks at Garston - North Dock, Old Dock and Stalbridge Dock. The first to be constructed was Old Dock opened on June 01, 1853 by the St. Helens Canal & Railway Company - built as an alternative to the very tidal Widnes Docks. The London and North Western Railway Company acquired the port in 1864 and constructed the North Dock which opened in 1876. Further expansion took place in the early 20th Century when the largest of the three docks Stalbridge Dock was opened on February 24, 1909. It was named Stalbridge Dock by Lord Stalbridge, Chairman of the London and North Western Railway. For the opening the White Star Line's MAGNETIC was chartered for invited guests and sailed from Prince's Landing Stage to Garston for the opening ceremony. Lord Stalbridge was also associated with the Shropshire Union Canal & Railway Company, which eventually became part of the L&NWR. The Shropshire Union Canal and Railway Company named their 1909 Dublin Dockyard built tug LORD STALBRIDGE after Lord Stalbridge. LORD STALBRIDGE was, along with W.E. DORRINGTON, of similar design to the DANIEL ADAMSON though a more powerful vessel. This series of photographs shows the progression of the Mersey Ferries vessel SNOWDROP up and down Garston channel and within the docks. The dockside views were taken by Paul Frost. SNOWDROP departed Seacombe just after 10:00 and called at Liverpool (Pier Head) and Birkenhead (Woodside) terminals to pick up passengers. During this period the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company's BEN-MY-CHREE was noted moving astern out of Cammell Laird looking splendid in her new paintwork following a three week refit.

Sailing up the channel past the Britannia public house the SNOWDROP passed the short lived berth used by Mersey Ferries during the 1984 Garden Festival. The timber berth piling remains in place. With part of the Garden Festival site being reopened to the public in 2012 and housing developments due to take place - perhaps one day it may be possible to use the berth again. However, the tidal nature of the channel would only make it accessible during periods of high water.

As SNOWDROP made her way up the channel the Victorian Houses of Grassendale and Cressington Esplanades came into view and before long the ship was heading towards the open gates which lead into Stalbridge Dock.

SNOWDROP passed through the open lock gates a few minutes after 11:00 and entered Stalbridge Dock.




One vessel the general cargo ship BLANKENESE (2882grt / 1984) was berthed on the south side of Stalbridge Dock. She is owned by Blankenese Shipping of Latvia and operated by Klip Marine Management of Estonia.


SNOWDROP turned and passed through the opening between Stalbridge Dock and Old Dock around 11:15. Today all three Garston Docks are treated as one basin serviced by one river entrance, though the remains of the gates which separated each of the three dock basins can be seen along with the sites of the each of the dock's own river entrance.




North Dock was entered around 11:18. Berthed on the south side of the dock was the forty two year old cement carrier CEMENTINA (1096grt / 1960) owned by Independent Shipping of Grimsby and managed by Torbulk Shipping also of Grimsby.


SNOWDROP completed her turn in the North Dock around 11:22 and headed back through to Stalbridge Dock, passing a couple of fishing boats berthed in the former river entrance recess. Close by was what looked like an abandoned "boat project" sitting on the quayside. Was this a former ship's lifeboat? The superstructure of this vessel does not appear to be original. Also to be seen is the ABP survey vessel DRACOENA which began life as the 1966 as a pilot vessel operated by the Humber Pilots.





On returning to Stalbridge Dock SNOWDROP swung and moved astern to ensure the cruise covered as much of the water area as possible. Stalbridge Dock is dominated by high sandstone retaining walls. Close observation reveals locations at which coal drops were located which enabled railway wagons bringing coal from various collieries, to be discharged by gravity into vessels at the quayside. The wagons being run off railway sidings located at the higher level where the rail served container terminal now stands. There are some excellent photographs of the now removed coal drop structures in the book "London & North Western Railway Garston Docks" by Mike Fell and published by the London and North Western Railway Society.


SNOWDROP returned to the waters of the River Mersey around 11:40 sailing again past the former river entrances passing the Cressington and Grassendale Esplanades still dominated by their Victorian villas. Beyond that Otterspool promenade, created with infill from the construction of the Queensway Road Tunnel and subsequent dumping of Liverpool's garbage. The red "Sitting Bull" was a piece of artwork once installed at the Garden Festival in 1984. The colourful bovine is a prominent feature at the southern end of Otterspool Promenade.



SNOWDROP exited Garston channel around mid day and then headed downstream and out to the Crosby Buoy before returning to drop passengers off at Woodside, Liverpool and then returning finally to Seacombe. The Daniel Adamson Preservation Society has, once again, made shipping history on Merseyside by taking a Mersey Ferries vessel into Garston Docks!