Members enjoy journey through Liverpool docks history at Probus meeting
At a recent meeting of Ludlow Probus Club, members enjoyed a talk by Tony Paulden on the history of the Liverpool docks over the last millennium.
First mentioned in 1190 as 'Lifer Pul' meaning a muddy pool or puddle (Liverpool & Liverpudlians?)
From a small fishing village, Liverpool grew over the 12th to 18th centuries as trade increased from 'coastal' to the Americas and the Empire.
In 1715 the world's first 'Wet Dock' was introduced.
With the onset of the Industrial Revolution during the 19th century in the it became one of the busiest ports in the world.
This led to chaos with major delays to the loading/unloading of ships and the movement of some 10,000+ dockers along the 6 miles of various docks.
The solution was to build an electric driven rail system to transport the dockers.
Work on the Liverpool Overhead Railway commenced in 1889 (less than a decade after electric lights were installed in the City). The Prime Minister, Lord Salisbury, presided and it opened in March 1893, serving 11 elevated stations over the 6 miles of docks.
Nicknamed 'The Dockers Umbrella', as they were kept dry travelling from dock to dock, rather than having to walk anything up to 6 miles each day.
It was the world's first electric elevated rail system, protected by automatic colour light signals.
It was expanded shortly afterwards, enabling the public from middle-class areas north and south of the docks to view them working and ocean liner berths in action.
Connecting in 1906 to the newly electrified rail system from Liverpool to Aintree (Grand National etc) and the seaside resort of Southport.
This became the world's first urban-to-urban electric rail system.
The Luftwaffe bombed the port heavily as it was the main Atlantic supply route for materials from the Americas. In May 1941 an overhead station was destroyed during the Blitz, causing disruption.
With personnel travel options changing post-war and the cost to maintain and repair the structure, in 1956 the decision was taken to demolish the system.
By 1957 little remained other than a few items, plus many records and a renovated carriage in Liverpool Museum.
Scousers fondly remember the system as 'The Ovee'.
Report by Clayton Lee
The Probus Club of Ludlow meets twice monthly on Tuesdays at the Maskel Centre in Ludlow, where members enjoy a wide range of interesting and informative talks.