Douglas Harbour - Brief History
| Douglas Harbour - Brief History | |
|---|---|
| Prior to 1700 | Some crude wharfs and jetties on the river banks of the present inner harbour. |
| 1700 | The “Tongue” built, being the first masonry structure. Followed by rebuilding of North and South Quay walls |
| 1765-1790 Approx | North Quay extended seawards to seek deeper water. More exposure to sea resulted. |
| 1790 | Treasury 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 |
| 1826 | Sir 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. |
| 1835 | AT 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. |
| 1839 | Need of outer works revived by Mr John Hawshaw, eminent Engineer. |
| 1840 & 1846 | Mr James Walker, Engineer to the Harbour Commissioners, revived the same proposals unsuccessfully. |
| 1846 | Commissioners sought Treasury assistance with a masonry breakwater from “Little Head” to the design of their new Engineer, John Temperley. No success achieved. |
| 1853 | Similar approach again, but with no success. |
| 1858 | Royal 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. |
| 1864 | Manx 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. |
| 1867 | Remainder 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. |
| 1867 | Construction of Victoria Pier commenced. |
| 1871 | Up to this year all landings of passengers were at the Red Pier and at periods of high water. |
| 1872 | Victoria Pier opened by Lord Loch. Little use in storm conditions from North-East round to South-East. |
| 1879 | Battery Pier in present form completed to the design of Sir John Coode. |
| 1887 | Agitation for better accommodation within sheltered harbour. Decision to lengthen Victoria Pier by 400 feet. |
| 1891 | Victoria Pier extension opened. Need of further shelter still voiced. |
| 1904-1908-1914 | Schemes put forward for lengthening of the Red Pier. Shelved due to Great War. |
| 1922 | Resurrection of Red Pier Scheme, leading to:- |
| 1925 | Exhausstive 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. |
| 1929 | Failure to proceed with outer works led to revival of pleas for more berthage. Tynwald resolved to proceed with the Red Pier extention. |
| 1936 | Red Pier extension opened in May 1936, thirty-two years after its first being proposed. |
| 1953 | Victoria Pier widened by 19 feet on the north side throughout its whole length. |
| 1954 | The Coffee Palace Berth in the inner harbour set back and re-constructed to give better accommodation for cargo vessels and more turning space. |
| 1963-1967 | Construction of Sea Terminal Building. Opened by HRH The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon on 6th July 1965. |
| 1978 | Construction of first stage standage area between roots of Victoria and King Edward Piers to which Linkspan is attached. |
| 1979 | Construction 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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