Many key technology advances happen at the end of the 1800s, benefitting shipping, including standardised time and electric cranes. Following an economic downturn, the town`s docks are bought by the Southern Railway. The Victorian era touches the port directly, as Queen Victoria opens the port`s largest dock - Empress Dock, named in her honour.

1881	P and O moves its operations from Southampton to London because of a lack of space at the port
1884	Greenwich Mean Time is made the standard reference time for the world
1885	The Canadian Pacific Railway is completed
1888	An parliamentary act, defining the limits of Southampton`s port, is passed
1889	Part of Southampton water, near Netley, is dredged for the first time
1890	Queen Victoria opens Empress Dock - still the largest dock basin in the port
1892	Southampton Docks are bought by the London and South Western Railway Company The Royal Pier is rebuilt and extended
1893	First electric crane in Britain is installed at Town Quay
1894	The Manchester Ship Canal opens
1895	The Prince of Wales (No 5) dry-dock is opened. It can accommodate the largest ships of the day
1899	Southampton`s Test Quays are opened to shipping

Before 1830 | 1830 - 1850 | 1850 - 1880 | 1880 - 1900 | 1900 - 1920 | 1920 - 1939 | 1939 - 1945 | 1945 - 1960 | After 1960

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