Maritime & Heritage

Liverpool is a city built on it’s Maritime Heritage and world trade influence.

In 1715 the first ever commercial wet dock opened in Liverpool, the Old Dock, originally known as Thomas Steer’s Dock. The Albert Dock on Liverpool’s waterfront was an architectural triumph that opened in 1846 and was the first structure in Britain to be built from cast iron, brick and stone. By the late 19th Century, 40% of the world’s trade was passing through Liverpool’s docks.

Two years after the Albert Dock opened it was modified to feature the world’s first hydraulic cranes. It was a popular store for valuable cargoes like brandy, cotton, tea, silk, tobacco, ivory and sugar.

You can even stay amongst the beautiful maritime heritage at the Titanic Liverpool Hotel on the historic Stanley Dock complex inside a beautifully converted dock warehouse.

Delve deeper into the maritime history of Liverpool’s docks from the commercial trade to its busy ferry terminal at the Merseyside Maritime Museum located amongst the largest collection of Grade I listed buildings in Britain, the Albert Dock. Or take a free tour of The Old Dock that has been carefully preserved beneath the Liverpool ONE complex.

More information on the history of Liverpool.