The Ports, Harbours, Watering-places and Picturesque Scenery of Great Britain Vol. 2

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Finden William. The Ports, Harbours, Watering-places and Picturesque Scenery of Great Britain Vol. 2

BERWICK. – LIGHTHOUSE ON THE PIER

THE MERSEY. FROM LIVERPOOL

CANNING DOCK AND CUSTOM-HOUSE, LIVERPOOL

ST. NICHOLAS' CHURCH AND ST. GEORGE'S BASIN, LIVERPOOL

NEW BRIGHTON

MATLOCK, DERBYSHIRE

CONWAY CASTLE, NORTH WALES

CONWAY QUAY

THE MENAI BRIDGE

PORT PENRHYN AND BANGOR

BEAUMARIS, ANGLESEA

HOLYHEAD

THE SOUTHSTACK LIGHTHOUSE, HOLYHEAD

EAGLE TOWER, CAERNARVON CASTLE

CAERNARVON CASTLE

HARLECH CASTLE, NORTH WALES

BARMOUTH: OR, ABERMAW

SWANSEA BAY. GLAMORGANSHIRE

OYSTERMOUTH CASTLE

THE MUMBLES' LIGHTHOUSE

THE NASS SANDS LIGHTHOUSES

CARDIFF, GLAMORGANSHIRE

GLOUCESTER

BRISTOL, FROM ROWNHAM FERRY

REDCLIFFE CHURCH AND BASIN, BRISTOL

CLIFTON. THE SUSPENSION BRIDGE

BATH

TINTAGEL CASTLE

PLYMOUTH

MOUNT EDGECUMBE

BRIXHAM

EXMOUTH

BUDLEIGH-SALTERTON

VIEW FROM THE BEACH AT SIDMOUTH, LOOKING TOWARDS THE SOUTH-WEST

CAVES AT LADRAM BAY

WEYMOUTH

HURST CASTLE

COWES

SOUTHAMPTON

SOUTHAMPTON. THE WALLS

PORTSMOUTH. ENTRANCE TO THE HARBOUR

PORTSMOUTH. RIGGING-HULK, WITH A NEW FRIGATE ALONGSIDE

PORTSMOUTH. VIEW FROM THE SALUTING PLATFORM

GOSPORT

MEN-OF-WAR AT SPITHEAD

BRIGHTON

HASTINGS

HASTINGS. FROM THE BEACH

RYE, SUSSEX

FOLKSTONE

DOVER, FROM THE RAMSGATE ROAD

DOVER

SANDWICH, KENT

RAMSGATE, ENTRANCE TO THE HARBOUR

BROADSTAIRS. ISLE OF THANET

KINGSGATE, NEAR BROADSTAIRS

SCENE NEAR MARGATE. TWO VESSELS ASHORE

CHATHAM DOCK-YARD

GRAVESEND, FROM THE THAMES

LONDON, FROM GREENWICH PARK

THE PORT OF LONDON

THE TOWER OF LONDON

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The Mersey is to Liverpool what the Thames is to London – the grand channel of mercantile prosperity – the main artery that carries health and vigour into the heart of the city, and thence distributes them by a thousand ramifications through all classes of the community. The navigation of this river has long been an object of primary import to the prosperity of our national trade; and therefore every suggestion which promised to obviate and remove those impediments which nature had thrown in the way, has been met with the greatest promptness and liberality. Whatever it was possible for art to accomplish has been attempted, and that so successfully that, if the ultimate object has not yet been obtained, the navigation of the Mersey has at least been rendered comparatively safe and expeditious. The grand enterprise for facilitating the intercourse between Liverpool and Manchester was commenced in 1720, when a canal was formed, and the navigation of the Mersey and Irwell was so greatly improved, that the "flats" – which were previously ten or eleven days in going from one town to the other – could now, by taking advantage of the tide, accomplish the same distance in as many hours. How amazingly this distance has been again shortened in our own times, by the introduction of steam power, is familiar to every one.

The rise and expansion of Liverpool – in all that regards it as a mercantile emporium – have taken place within the last two centuries. In 1650, the town – a mere fishing hamlet – consisted of only five or six streets. A pool, branching from the river, extended over the space now occupied by the new Custom-house and the three streets adjoining; and, for the convenience of intercourse, a ferry-boat was kept at the corner of Church-street and Whitechapel. This ferry was at last superseded by a bridge, erected by the proprietor of the land, Lord Molyneux; and since that period the advancement of the Mersey in the list of great navigable rivers has been unprecedentedly rapid and successful. The grand municipal improvements, however, have all been effected within the last century. During that interval, splendid squares, streets, and public monuments have sprung up into existence. Previously to that epoch there was no spirit, no scope for commercial enterprise, and consequently no harbour, nor dock, nor warehouse. But now spacious harbours extend for several miles along the bank of the Mersey: on the bosom of the river stately merchantmen, outward or homeward bound, laden with the produce of every clime, are continually passing and repassing; while the usual embellishments which follow a train of successful industry are apparent at every step of our progress, adding ever varying features of beauty and animation to the landscape. He who would form a just estimate of the vast and unlimited resources of this great commercial city, should spend at least a day, partly in a promenade along the banks, and partly on the spring-tide of the Mersey.

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The lower apartments of the Custom-house consist of spacious vaults for the safe custody of bonded and other goods; and in the centre is the apartment known as the Long Room. The offices of customs occupy the whole extent of the west wing; and it is intended that part of the east wing shall be appropriated to the use of the general post-office. Above these are the excise offices and those of the dock-treasurer and secretaries. The remaining portions of the edifice are subdivided into the board-room, the dock-committee's offices, and the stamp-office.

The chasteness and beauty of the Ionic style of architecture adopted in this magnificent edifice have been much and justly admired. The centre, and the east and west fronts are adorned by lofty porticos, each supported by eight Ionic columns. The centre of the building is surmounted by a magnificent dome, lighted by sixteen windows, and ornamented round by pilasters. Inclosed within the outer dome is a smaller one encircled by twelve windows, so as to afford sufficient light to the Long Room. The interior of this building will amply repay the stranger for a visit. The grand front is opposite Castle-street; and, entering in this direction, the first object which claims attention is the massive grouping of the pilasters which support the floor of the Long Room over head. The stairs, flanked by handsome iron balustrades, – the landing-places supported by eight Ionic stone columns, each of a single piece, – the four pilasters, and the elaborate ceilings, – are all deserving of particular attention. The Long Room is altogether splendidly designed and executed; lighted by fourteen windows on the sides, and by twelve as already observed, in the inner dome. The ceiling is divided by lateral and transverse beams into regular compartments, all beautifully ornamented. At each of the opposite ends of this noble apartment are a corresponding flight of stairs and landing-places. But to convey a just description of this monument to the genius of commerce is at once difficult and tedious; we therefore recommend all who may visit Liverpool, as admirers of its docks, harbours, and splendid edifices, to devote an hour to the Custom-house – a building which reflects great honour upon the architect, and serves as a lasting ornament to the second city of the empire.

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