Victoria Tower was designed by Jesse Hartley and was constructed between 1847 and 1848, to commemorate the opening of Liverpools Salisbury Dock. Its design was based upon an earlier drawing by Philip Hardwick in 1846. Victoria Tower, which was often referred to as the 'docker's clock', was built as an aid to ships in the port, as it allowed them to set the correct time as they sailed out into the Irish Sea, while its bell warned of impending meteorological changes such as high tide and fog. Upon its completion is also served as accommodation for the Pier Master. Hartley's inspiration for the tower's design was the castle architecture of the Rhine region in Central Europe and is clearly visible in the numerous embrasures that are cut into the tower walls. It was constructed from 'irregular shaped' blocks of grey granite, a building material that was used in many of Hartley's other construction projects. The tower can be roughly split into three portions: The tapered circular base, which has several arched alcoves The central hexagonal column onto which the tower's six clocks are attached The roof, which consists of an overhanging 'castellated parapet' that is supported by several corbels.