Worth a ZOOM ?? Not too impressive is it, even I might admit I've taken better photographs...so why this? Well this IS Liverpool, this pile of bricks is kind of important for several reasons.Marine trade has gone on for thousands of years and for most of that time there was a problem.Ships would drop anchor off shore or in inlets and load and unload cargo.Tides and weather played a big part in how long this took and it's always been a case of "time is money".Liverpool was a busy inlet that saw many firsts,the first cargo from the Americas was recorded in 1648. The development of the town accelerated after the Restoration of 1660, with the growth of trade with America and the West Indies. From that time may be traced the rapid progress of population and commerce, until Liverpool had become the second metropolis of Great Britain. Initially, cloth, coal and salt from Lancashire and Cheshire were exchanged for sugar and tobacco; the town's first sugar refinery was established in 1670. In 1708 the merchants who controlled Liverpool Corporation employed Thomas Steers, one of Britain's leading canal engineers, to find a solution.He converted the mouth of the Pool into a dock with quaysides and a river gate. It was now possible for ships to load and unload whatever the state of the tide,a revolutionary facility.The dock was technically very difficult to build and cost £12,000,double its original estimate. The Corporation was nearly bankrupted but its success encouraged further rapid increases in overseas trade through Liverpool. Among the first to praise the dock was Daniel Defoe, author of many best sellers including Robinson Crusoe, who wrote in 1715 "This is of so great a benefit and its like is not to be seen anywhere in England". What Steers had built was the first 'wet dock' in the world...and this is it, well a small corner of it.The dock is 100 yards wide and 200 yards long and could accomodate a hundred 150 ton ships.Within 12 months of opening, 45% of global Maritime trade entered or left this dock.Trade with The Americas increased so much that the first American Consulate in the world opened in Liverpool.With such growth came increased population, and so housing and shops, taverns and brothels (well sailors were at sea a long time). The big problem with the first of anything is it's an experiment.Thomas Steers was a canal builder, he worked with bricks and so built the dock with bricks...a big mistake, 150 ton ships and bricks don't interact well, as is evident in the picture.More docks soon followed, built from granite and sandstone blocks and the original dock was filled in. For anyone who saw the 'Time Team' episode Liverpools Lost Dock.... it was never lost! it's location has always been known, the surprise was the amazing condition of the dock and the fact the entire structure is still present.It will take years to excavate the entire dock but it will happen....I may post more photos and I may even tell you the truth about that Time Team episode, our tour guides Yazz and Danny were in the show and there when the cameras weren't rolling :-) Still bogged down at work, I needed to post something, just hope this is of some interest to some of you.....see you when I see you!