BUILT FROM A MILLION BRICKS, GRIMSBY'S DOCK TOWER WILL SOON BE 170 YEARS OLD

                                                                 

Just magnificent - and a symbol of homecoming for Grimbarians

It is many  happy returns of  Sunday March 27 for Grimsby dock tower.

It will have reached 170 years having been completed on that date in 1852

Standing 309 feet (94.2m) tall, the tower was built to power the hydraulic machinery of Grimsby docks. 

Its height was to achieve the sufficient pressure needed to operate the machines.

Designed by James Wild, the magnificent structure is based on the Torre del Mangia on the Palazzo Pubblico in Siena. 

It was built by James Meadows Rendel, the civil engineer who constructed the docks at Grimsby between 1844 and 1853, and which were opened by Queen Victoria and her husband Prince Albert.

The tower stands on land owned by ABP Humber whose regional director, Simon Bird, says: "The dock tower is an icon in the landscape and the jewel in the port of Grimsby. 

"Over the years, it has been a beacon to  many, and for Grimbarians it is a symbol of home. 

"As its custodians we have over the years spent time and money maintaining it as it has such architectural historic value - it will be here for many more years to come."

Since the Covid-19 pandemic began in 2020, the Grade 1 listed tower has been closed to everyone interested in visiting it. 

Planned maintenance works this spring - prior to proposed re-opening - include the replacement of floorboards at the first level. 

Regular inspections are carried out on the building, led by ABP’s project team, and, in 2016, major brickwork repairs were carried out at the top.

These days, drones are used to do visual inspections of the mortar and brickwork. 

Weathering is one of the factors the building is affected by, but the work in 2016 saw lime mortar replaced where needed and new bricks inserted. The bricks were sourced from other similar aged buildings on the port.

Its construction in 1852 saw approximately one million bricks being used whose clay was excavated from the marsh adjoining the dock. 

The foundation of the tower is a solid masonry wall built upon a timber bearer piling. 

The legend is that it was "built upon a bale of wool", but, disappointingly, this is a reference to the Lincolnshire Longwool export trade which helped fund the port.

The tower continued to provide water for hydraulic working until 1892 when the erection of the hydraulic accumulator tower on the opposite pier approximately 70 yards to the northwest of the dock tower took over. 

Present dock and lock machinery are powered by electric or electro-hydraulic energy.

For Queen Victoria's visit in October 1854, the ground floor of the tower was lined with pink, white and blue drapery.

 Her Majesty gave permission for Prince Albert, the Prince of Wales, and the Princess Royal to accompany James Rendel in the hydraulic lift to the gallery running around the tower above the water tank. 

The lift is no longer in operation with access to the top via a spiral staircase.

It is hoped to have charitable fundraising activities and tours up and running by 2023.

                                                

The grand old lady in yesteryear