Sandon Half Tide Dock
Encyclopedia
Half Tide Dock
A half tide dock is a partially tidal dock. Typically the dock is entered at high tide. As the tide ebbs a sill or weir prevents the level dropping below a certain point, meaning that the ships in the dock remain afloat. Half tide docks are particularly useful in areas with a large tidal range....
on the River Mersey
River Mersey
The River Mersey is a river in North West England. It is around long, stretching from Stockport, Greater Manchester, and ending at Liverpool Bay, Merseyside. For centuries, it formed part of the ancient county divide between Lancashire and Cheshire....
, 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...
and part of the Port of Liverpool
Port of Liverpool
The Port of Liverpool is the name for the enclosed 7.5 mile dock system that runs from Brunswick Dock in Liverpool to Seaforth Dock, Seaforth, on the east side of the River Mersey and the Birkenhead Docks between Birkenhead and Wallasey on the west side of the river...
. It is situated in the northern dock system in Kirkdale, connected to Huskisson Dock
Huskisson Dock
Huskisson Dock is a dock on the River Mersey, England which forms part of the Port of Liverpool. It is situated in the northern dock system in Kirkdale. Huskisson Dock consists of a main basin nearest the river wall and two branch docks to the east...
to the north, Wellington Dock
Wellington Dock
Wellington Dock is a dock on the River Mersey, England and part of the Port of Liverpool. It is situated in the northern dock system in Kirkdale, connected to the Sandon Half Tide Dock to the west.It was designed by Jesse Hartley and opened in 1851....
to the east and Bramley-Moore Dock
Bramley-Moore Dock
Bramley-Moore Dock is a dock on the River Mersey, England and part of the Port of Liverpool. It is situated in the northern dock system in Vauxhall, connected to Sandon Half Tide Dock to the north and Nelson Dock to the south...
to the south. Sandon Dock
Sandon Dock
Sandon Dock was a dock on the River Mersey, England and part of the Port of Liverpool. Situated in the northern dock system, it was east of Sandon Half Tide Dock, to which it was once connected.It was designed by Jesse Hartley and opened in 1851...
was situated to the north of Wellington Dock and was accessible via Sandon Half Tide Dock.
Opened in 1851, the site was originally part of both Sandon Dock and Wellington Half Tide Dock, which connected directly to the Mersey via a narrow lock
Lock (water transport)
A lock is a device for raising and lowering boats between stretches of water of different levels on river and canal waterways. The distinguishing feature of a lock is a fixed chamber in which the water level can be varied; whereas in a caisson lock, a boat lift, or on a canal inclined plane, it is...
entrance. At the turn of the 20th century, Sandon Dock was redeveloped and an enlarged half tide dock created, with two larger locks built either side of the original entrance. When these access channels were sealed in March 1977, the water quality in the dock was noted to have improved.
Between 18 and 21 July 2008, larger vessels participating in the 2008 Tall Ships' Race
The Tall Ships' Races
The Tall Ships' Races are races for sail training "tall ships" . The races are designed to encourage international friendship and training for young people in the art of sailing. The races are held annually in European waters and consists of two racing legs of several hundred nautical miles, and a...
were berthed here and at neighbouring Wellington Dock.