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The Building Structures inspected vary greatly in form of construction and structural condition. The Dock Master’s Office and Victoria Clock Tower are both substantially robust structures, faced in granite laid in the ‘Cylcopean’ style of random bonding found in many of the dock structures. The floors to both these buildings are brick arch construction, though the cast iron elements which are integrated within each of the floors were showing signs of corrosion, which, in some cases, such as the roof level of the Clock Tower were fairly severe. Notwithstanding, these and other identified defects, such as local weathering/cracking and vegetation ingress to the external elevations, and general decay /deterioration internally, these two structures were considered to be in reasonably good condition. The other buildings surveyed – the Hydraulic Engine House at the Bramley-Moore Dock and the structures around the Clarence Graving Docks were found to be in various states of disrepair. The condition of the brickwork to the Hydraulic Engine House in particular was found to have localised weathering of both the brick face and mortar joints and vegetation growth. Various incidences of distress and some structural movement, evidenced by numerous cracks, particularly to the north face of the accumulator tower, where there is a vertical crack of nearly 10m in height, were considered to need further investigation. This building was considered to be in a poor structural condition, and in addition to general repair and maintenance, required significant remediation.
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The Bridges and Bridge Abutments at the dock entrances and passageways have all been modified to some degree. The passage between the Bramley-Moore and Nelson Docks has been filled with an isolation structure to control the water level within the canal link. The approaches to this structure have been built over the old swing bridge recess, leaving only a small portion of the original deck apron area. The Nelson/ Salisbury Dock passage has been fitted with a new cantilever swing bridge, and various minor modifications have been carried out to the south abutment to accommodate this. The overall structural condition, however, appears to be good. At the passage between the Princes Half Tide Dock and the West Waterloo Dock, the eastern recess is well-preserved, though there is some filling in concrete and localised damage is evident to the face of two copings. The western side is partly infilled, but appears to be in sound condition. At the passage between the Princes Half Tide Dock and the East Waterloo Dock, each abutment retains its dock gate, though one recess has been partly faced with a concrete retaining wall, which appears to be in good condition.
Liverpool Waters Conservation Management Plan – November 2011
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