Title
Collection of glass lantern slides relating to the Manchester Dry Dock Co Ltd
Reference
YA2010.69
Production date
1900 - 1940
Creator
- Manchester Dry Docks Co LtdBiographyBiography
The Manchester Ship Canal Pontoons and Dry Docks Company Limited opened the first dry dock facility at the Port of Manchester on the 14 February 1894. The company incorporated on the 14 October 1891, eventually changing its name to The Manchester Dry Docks Co Ltd on the 23 January 1906.
The Manchester Ship Canal Pontoons and Dry Docks Company Limited had been started by George Renwick, a ship owner from Newcastle-upon-Tyne after he had paid a visit to the Manchester Ship Canal during its construction. Realising the potential for a dry dock facility on the new canal, he approached the Manchester Ship Canal Company and an agreement was reached to provide him with land at Mode Wheel.
As the ship canal was not fully opened, a floating pontoon was built in 1893 to operate at the company’s other site at Ellesmere Port. As the work to construct the Manchester Ship Canal progressed, George Renwick began construction of the first dry dock at Mode Wheel to be operational on the 14 February 1894, the day the Ship Canal was officially opened. A further two dry docks were built on the Mode Wheel site in 1907 and 1917, as well as having a floating pontoon.
Scope and Content
4 in. x 4 in. glass lantern slides. The lantern slides show views of the dry docks, including repair work carried out to ships damaged by torpedo fire during the First World War; machinery and equipment used for repairs; diagrams of machinery; people at work; plans of the docks; aerial views of the docks and general views, such as water being pumped into a dock. Manchester Dry Docks were opened in 1894 and operated until 1979.
Extent
6 boxes
Archival history
The donor's father, Alistair Traill, was Yard Manager at the Manchester Dry Dock Company Ltd from the late 1930s until his retirement in 1971. He used the lantern slides to illustrate talks he gave on the company to various groups. The donor's grandfather, Alexander Traill, also worked at the company from c.1913 until c.1955. He was Dock Manager until the mid-1930s and then became the Managing Director of the company. He received an OBE for maintaining the operation of the docks during the Second World War.
Level of description
TOP
Repository name
Science and Industry Museum
Associated people and organisations
- Manchester Dry Docks Co LtdBiographyBiography
The Manchester Ship Canal Pontoons and Dry Docks Company Limited opened the first dry dock facility at the Port of Manchester on the 14 February 1894. The company incorporated on the 14 October 1891, eventually changing its name to The Manchester Dry Docks Co Ltd on the 23 January 1906.
The Manchester Ship Canal Pontoons and Dry Docks Company Limited had been started by George Renwick, a ship owner from Newcastle-upon-Tyne after he had paid a visit to the Manchester Ship Canal during its construction. Realising the potential for a dry dock facility on the new canal, he approached the Manchester Ship Canal Company and an agreement was reached to provide him with land at Mode Wheel.
As the ship canal was not fully opened, a floating pontoon was built in 1893 to operate at the company’s other site at Ellesmere Port. As the work to construct the Manchester Ship Canal progressed, George Renwick began construction of the first dry dock at Mode Wheel to be operational on the 14 February 1894, the day the Ship Canal was officially opened. A further two dry docks were built on the Mode Wheel site in 1907 and 1917, as well as having a floating pontoon.
- Traill, Alistair
Subject
Conditions governing access
Open Access
Conditions governing Reproduction
Copies may be supplied in accordance with current copyright legislation and Science Museum Group terms and conditions
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