Itchen Quays
Itchen Quays
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Passenger Ships
In the 1860s, various continental shipping companies had started to
call at Southampton en route to America, including Norddeutscher
Lloyd and Hamburg-America Line. The port even attracted Rotterdam
Lloyd ships on their way to and from the Dutch East Indies. The
Eastern Docks had only been open twenty-five years and dock space
was becoming scarce. The Dock Company decided to build riverside
quays along the west bank of the River Itchen south of the Outer
Dock. Construction of the Itchen Quays started in 1873 and was
complete in 1895, although the first phase, Berths 30-33, was
opened in 1876. This did not come quickly enough to stop the
P&O company leaving Southampton. The limitations of dock space
at the port and pressure from London merchants led to their
departure in 1875. Despite this loss, the amount of shipping
passing through Southampton docks in 1876 was greater than in 1874.
Docks: Sheds 30/31
The completed quays provided 3048 ft (914 m) of berthing space,
located either side of the entrance to Empress Dock. Large
two-storey passenger and cargo sheds were built at each berth. Four
hydraulic and fifteen electrically-operated cranes were provided,
along with four 1-ton "Goliath" electric travelling cranes which
were used to lift goods to the upper story of the cargo sheds. In
the 1930s these berths were used by Royal Mail Lines ships to Rio
de Janeiro and other points in South America. Union-Castle Line
vessels also docked here, bringing cargo from South Africa,
including wool, grain, skins and hides. Much fruit was also landed
here and quickly dispatched to markets.
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