Morpeth Dock
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Morpeth Dock is a dock at Birkenhead, United Kingdom. It was built between 1844 and 1847 and connects to the Great Float via Egerton Dock. It once connected directly to the River Mersey via locks, although the entrance channel has since been partially infilled after being disused for some years. The dock was used by GWR as the Birkenhead end of cross-river traffic to the Manchester Dock.
The dock is named after Lord Morpeth, the 7th Earl of Carlisle, who was the First Commissioner of Woods and Forests.
[edit] One O'Clock Gun
Situated close to the dock and overlooking the river, the One O'Clock Gun provided a time signal to shipping on the Mersey. It was fired electrically from Bidston Observatory for the first time on 21st September 1867 and the original cannon was a relic of the Crimean War. [1] During the Second World War firing was temporarily suspended, ceasing altogether on 18th July 1969. [2]
A One O'Clock Gun is still fired at Edinburgh Castle.
[edit] References
- Yesterday's Wirral by Ian & Marilyn Boumphrey. ISBN 0-9507255-1-X
