Liverpool: Albert Dock

The final set of pictures from Liverpool, features the Albert Dock and surrounding area. It is well worth a visit, and be sure to allow plenty of time to see everything. The dock has been tastefully redeveloped as a tourist area with attractions, and shops, but retaining the feel of a dock, with many historic buildings, such as this former Great Western Railway warehouse. Shame about that Lego like building towering above it though. 

A former Liverpool Pilot boat, the Edmund Gardner, is now in dry dock, and tours re organised aboard her.  It formerly operated as a pilot to meet incoming ships that needed guiding into the Port of Liverpool. Launched in 1951 at  a cost of £200,000 for the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board, she was withdrawn from service in 1981. 

A sailing ship in dry dock. 

An eight-foot high bronze sculpture of this horse was unveiled in May 2010. It honours the hard working dock horses and carters that worked in the city for 250 years. 

A fine looking three masted sailing ship.

Unfortunately the sculpture of Billy Fury was in shadow, so didn't make that good a photograph. It looks more like Elvis Presley in this view!

Looking across Albert Dock.

This vessel is called the 'Brocklebank.' The tugboat was built in 1964 and served on the River Mersey throughout the 1960s and 70s. She was retired from service due to the ever increasing size of ships requiring more powerful tugs. 

There were many boats mooed in Albert Docks. The shops, under the arches as above, are on all sides of the dock. 

Albert Dock was closed in 1972 and lay virtually derelict until redevelopment plans started in 1981, when the Merseyside Development Corporation was set up. Albert Dock was officially reopened in 1984 and has since become a major tourist attraction in the city of Liverpool.  

Looking back towards the Pier Head area which is in the distance. 

The Albert Dock is obviously avery popular area to visit, for there were a lot of visitors and locals there.

One of the old warehouses that have survived demolition and converted in to various uses. 

Something for the kids and the young at heart!

A former lightship, now converted into a floating bar.