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Douglas Harbour - Brief History

Passenger Landing Chart

Douglas Harbour - Brief History
Prior to 1700Some crude wharfs and jetties on the river banks of the present inner harbour.
1700The “Tongue” built, being the first masonry structure. Followed by rebuilding of North and South Quay walls
1765-1790 ApproxNorth Quay extended seawards to seek deeper water. More exposure to sea resulted.
1790Treasury sent a skilled Engineer to report on state of the harbour. Inter alia, recommended the first breakwater. One only of his various proposals materialised; the construction of the Red Pier in 1801 for £25,000
1826Sir William Hillary suggested a harbour of refuge being made at Douglas. An Admiralty Commissioner investigated and reported, advocating a 1900 feet breakwater from Douglas Head overlapping a similar structure commencing on Conister Rock. Not proceeded with on account of great estimated cost.
1835AT request of Lieutenant Governor, Sir John Rennie, FRS investigated and recommended various outer works at a cost of £216,000. The only proposal to materialise was the Fort Anne Jetty, then the outer limit of the harbour.
1839Need of outer works revived by Mr John Hawshaw, eminent Engineer.
1840 & 1846Mr James Walker, Engineer to the Harbour Commissioners, revived the same proposals unsuccessfully.
1846Commissioners sought Treasury assistance with a masonry breakwater from “Little Head” to the design of their new Engineer, John Temperley. No success achieved.
1853Similar approach again, but with no success.
1858Royal Commission on Harbours of Refuge sate at a public enquiry. Outer works proposed at cost of £100,000 half of which would be found by British Government. Proposals were not acted upon.
1864Manx Legislature resolved that protective works were vital. Abernethy-style breakwater built from the “Little Head”.
1865 (Jan)Most of breakwater demolished in South-East storm.
1867Remainder of breakwater demolished in South-East storm. Pertinent to note that the harbour Commissioners strongly opposed an Abernethy breakwater and advocated masonry, but were over-ruled on grounds of cost.
1867Construction of Victoria Pier commenced.
1871Up to this year all landings of passengers were at the Red Pier and at periods of high water.
1872Victoria Pier opened by Lord Loch. Little use in storm conditions from North-East round to South-East.
1879Battery Pier in present form completed to the design of Sir John Coode.
1887Agitation for better accommodation within sheltered harbour. Decision to lengthen Victoria Pier by 400 feet.
1891Victoria Pier extension opened. Need of further shelter still voiced.
1904-1908-1914Schemes put forward for lengthening of the Red Pier. Shelved due to Great War.
1922Resurrection of Red Pier Scheme, leading to:-
1925Exhausstive enquiry by Committee of Tynwald. Proposals for outer works put forward by the Committee (The “Hunter” report). Of three possible schemes Tynwald recommended widening of existing breakwater and extension by 500 feet at an estimated cost of £750,000. Left in abeyance due to looming trade depression.
1929Failure to proceed with outer works led to revival of pleas for more berthage. Tynwald resolved to proceed with the Red Pier extention.
1936Red Pier extension opened in May 1936, thirty-two years after its first being proposed.
1953Victoria Pier widened by 19 feet on the north side throughout its whole length.
1954The Coffee Palace Berth in the inner harbour set back and re-constructed to give better accommodation for cargo vessels and more turning space.
1963-1967Construction of Sea Terminal Building. Opened by HRH The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon on 6th July 1965.
1978Construction of first stage standage area between roots of Victoria and King Edward Piers to which Linkspan is attached.
1979Construction and installation of pedestrian footbridge to replace vehicular bridge installed in 1895

"Douglas Harbour - How it's grown" article by John Shimmin

"The Douglas Head Suspension Bridge" article by F K Pearson, Journal of the Manx Museum, Vol VII

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