THE DOCK TOWER
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- I
- List Entry Number:
- 1379870
- Date first listed:
- 28-Apr-1972
- Statutory Address:
- THE DOCK TOWER, ROYAL DOCK
Map
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Location
- Statutory Address:
- THE DOCK TOWER, ROYAL DOCK
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- District:
- North East Lincolnshire (Unitary Authority)
- National Grid Reference:
- TA 27844 11348
Details
GRIMSBY
TA2711SE ROYAL DOCK, The Docks
699-1/5/129 The Dock Tower
28/04/72
GV I
Hydraulic tower. 1851-2 by JW Wild for The Grimsby Dock
Company. Red brick with limestone ashlar plinth and ashlar cap
with iron lantern. Modelled on the Palazzo Publico at Sienna,
with an oriental-style minaret.
EXTERIOR: square section, approx 94m tall. 3 stages. Tall main
stage has rock-faced rusticated plinth, recessed board door to
east side beneath rubbed-brick arch, 6 tiers of 3 tall slit
lights to each side. Brass memorial plaque to west side
inscribed "1939 A TRIBUTE TO THOSE WHO SWEPT THE SEAS 1949".
Stepped brick and ashlar string course. Splayed-out top
section above with deep imitation machicolations and tall
parapet with brick-coped pointed arched crenellations. Next
stage is a smaller version of the lower stage with a single
tier of 2 slit-lights to each side and a similar crenellated
head. Above this, a short octagonal stage with a round-headed
door to the balcony. Moulded cap with tall octagonal iron
lantern crowned by an openwork spire and finial. Contains
hydraulic gear which originally operated the gates to the
adjacent east and west locks (qv), and dockside cranes.
INTERIOR: not inspected.
HISTORY: this is the largest and architecturally most
distinguished hydraulic tower in the UK. The tower is one of
William Armstrong's earliest applications of hydraulic power,
and is believed to be the only hydraulics system of its type
to be built. It is important as a representative of the first
stage of hydraulic-power technology which operated on low
pressure, with the pressure being gained through height, from
an elevated water tank. It was superseded in 1892 by the
high-pressure hydraulic accumulator tower which stands nearby
to the west (qv). Together the 2 towers form a unique and
important survival of early hydraulic systems.
The tower is also a major landmark and seamark.
(The Buildings of England: Pevsner N, Harris J, Antram N:
Lincolnshire: 1989: p343: London; Institute of Civil
Engineers: Civil Engineering Heritage: Labrum EA: Eastern and
Central England: London: 1994-: 52-4; A guide to the
Industrial Archaeology of Lincolnshire & S.Humbs: Wright NR:
Lincoln: 1983-: 16-18; University of Hull Publications:
Gillett E: A History of Grimsby: London: 1970-: 214-5; Ambler
RW: Great Grimsby Fishing Heritage: a brief for a trail:
Grimsby Borough Council: 1990-: 17-18, 20-22; Grimsby Borough
Planning Department: Action for Conservation: 1972-: NO.100).
Listing NGR: TA2784411348
This List entry has been amended to add the source for War Memorials Register. This source was not used in the compilation of this List entry but is added here as a guide for further reading, 23 January 2017.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 479305
- Legacy System:
- LBS
Sources
Books and journals
Gillett, E, A History of Grimsby, (1970), 214-215
Pevsner, N, John, H, The Buildings of England: Lincolnshire, (1964), 343
Wright, N R, A Guide to the Industrial Archaeology of Lincolnshire16-18
Websites
War Memorials Register, accessed 23 January 2017 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/51894
Legal
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
End of official listing