Glasson Dock
Glasson Dock | ||
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Shire county | ||
Region | ||
Country | England | |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom | |
Post town | LANCASTER | |
Postcode district | LA2 | |
Dialling code | 01524 | |
Police | Lancashire | |
Fire | Lancashire | |
Ambulance | North West | |
UK Parliament | ||
Glasson Dock, also known as Glasson, is a village in
History
Glasson was originally a small farming and fishing community (which is now known as Old Glasson and Brows-saltcote); the village of Overton lies directly across the river from Glasson.[1]
In 1779, the Lancaster Port Commission decided to build a dock at Glasson because of the difficulties of navigating up the River Lune to the port at Lancaster. Land was purchased in 1780, with work commencing by 1782. A pier was constructed but there were problems and the west wall began to bulge.[1] In August 1782, the commissioners asked Henry Berry, who was employed as the engineer for the Liverpool docks, to arbitrate in the dispute with the contractor, and to design a dock, to be located by the pier. Berry was unable to do so, as he was so busy, and so the engineer Thomas Morris was asked instead. He produced plans in November 1783, for a project which involved rebuilding the bulging wall, and the construction of another short pier from the opposite bank of the river, so that gates could be fitted between the two. The estimated cost was £2,700, and Mr. Fisher was appointed as the new contractor, with Morris acting as engineer for a salary of £100 per year. Construction was finished by March 1787, when the dock opened, with Morris remaining as engineer until December.[2] The dock was well equipped and could hold up to 25 merchant ships.[3]
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In 1792, with the construction of the
As the ships using the dock did not require significant amounts of local labour, the settlement around the dock did not grow significantly. Many of the buildings in the village were built in the 19th century, including Christ Church, which was built in 1840, although expanded in 1931–32. A shipyard and Customs House were built in 1834, a Watch House in 1836, and a Dry Dock in 1841. The shipyards were largely concerned with ship repair rather than shipbuilding, eventually closing in 1968, with the dry dock filled in a year later.[1]
The quay was connected to the railway network at
A limited amount of commercial traffic still uses the dock, with outbound shipments including coal for the Isle of Man and the Western Isles of Scotland, and incoming cargoes including animal foodstuffs and fertilizer, which are stored in the sheds located on the dock side.[1]
Ship building
A number of ships were built in Glasson Dock:
- Anna (1835)[6]
- Carrie Bell (1862) built by Matthew Simpson[6]
- Englishman (1864) built by Matthew Simpson[6]
- Dairy Maid (1867) built by Matthew Simpson[6]
- James & Mary (1867) built by Matthew Simpson[6]
- Red Rose (1879) built by Matthew Simpson[6]
Operations
Maritime vessel entering the dock can only do so during limited tidal windows because the River Lune contains very little water at low tide, and mooring is not possible outside the dock entrance. As the channel varies its course, shipping can only safely navigate with high tides. The dock gates are only opened for a period starting 45 minutes before high water and ending at high water. The entrance to the dock is controlled by traffic lights and travelling down river is only safe for an hour immediately after high water.[7]
The dock is connected by a lock to Glasson Basin Marina, which has mooring facilities for 220 boats, and a wide range of boating services including chandlery, facilities for the repair of boats, a wet dock, slipway and a hoist with a capacity of 35 tons for cranage.[8]
The Victoria Inn
The owners of the Victoria Inn, then one of the village's two
Gallery
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River Lune, at Bazil Point, Overton, Lancashire, looking towards Glasson Dock at low tide
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Sunset over Glasson Dock
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Glasson Dock
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The Victoria Inn, in Victoria Terrace, pictured in 2006
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The eastern side of the inn
See also
- Scheduled monuments in Lancashire
- Listed buildings in Thurnham, Lancashire
- Canals of the United Kingdom
- History of the British canal system
- Waring & Gillow
References
- ^ a b c d e "History". Glasson Festival. Archived from the original on 20 February 2008.
- ^ Skempton 2002, p. 454
- ^ Hadfield & Biddle 1970, p. 182
- ^ Hadfield & Biddle 1970, p. 186
- ^ Hadfield & Biddle 1970, pp. 195–197
- ^ a b c d e f "Lancaster Sailing Ships - Mighty Seas". www.mightyseas.co.uk. Mighty Seas. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
- ^ "Sailing". Glasson Festival. Archived from the original on 14 October 2007.
- ^ "Glasson Basin Marina". British Waterways. Archived from the original on 19 October 2006.
- ^ "Glasson Dock ‘tired old lady’ pub plans have wide support" – Lancaster Guardian, 30 July 2019
- ^ "Fight is on to save Glasson pub" – Lancaster Guardian, 9 May 2017
- ^ Hartwell & Pevsner (2009), p. 304
- ^ Historic England & 1164656
- Sources
- Hadfield, Charles; Biddle, Gordon (1970). The Canals of North West England, Vol 1 (pp.1-236). David and Charles. ISBN 978-0-7153-4956-4.
- Skempton, Sir Alec; et al. (2002). A Biographical Dictionary of Civil Engineers in Great Britain and Ireland: Vol 1: 1500 to 1830. Thomas Telford. ISBN 978-0-7277-2939-2.
- Hartwell, Clare; ISBN 978-0-300-12667-9
- Historic England, "Victoria Hotel, Thurnham (1164656)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 19 June 2015