Forums Forums Wirral History : Chasing the Past Wirral History Birkenhead Docklands 1992 - 1997

I have posted a selection of photos which I took around the Birkenhead Docklands during the period 1992 - 1997.

Click on the link to access:

http://jhlphotography.smugmug.com/T...tage-Infrastuctur/Birkenhead-Docklands-/

Great pics, sorry but I copied loads.

Loved this one..

Smashing pics. At least our docks haven't been disfigured by all those unsightly containers which the dock board tried to lumber us with. The dockers soon knocked that in the head.

Just wondering how many dockers are employed in the docks now and how many would have been employed if the dockers allowed the containers in the docks, in shooting foot yourself comes to mind.

Has anyone seen a docker in Birkenhead docks?.

An interesting read on life in Birkenhead Docks is "Rogue Docker" published by Amberley Press.

Just been looking at your Liverpool Docklands pics, great stuff
http://jhlphotography.smugmug.com/T...ritage-Infrastuctur/Liverpool-Docklands/

Excellent those, thanks for sharing.

davew3. Watched a bit on The One Show last week which showed Felixstowe docks, all stacked up with containers and it was as busy as heck. Cranes working, trucks, dockers, ships, tugs, bang, bang, bang. That's what made me think when I looked at the pics of the docks here as it was,before these pics were taken, and when I look at it now when I'm going across the bridges. Self shooting of the foot was certainly what I was thinking of. Thing is, will we ever learn?

They did come to Merseyside, out at Seaforth, next to the new generation deep water births being built now. Birkenhead was never in the run for containers. Liverpool is still breaking port tonnage records modernization took the jobs not a refusal to embrace change.

You're missing my point, all this could've been done in the 60's and it was a missed opportunity. I was looking forward to starting my new career as a docker after leaving the RN but the docks was already on it's knees compared to what it was. I'm from docker stock so don't really need a lecture on how the docks work. I'm just stating my opinion, to which I'm entitled. The golden goose was slaughtered but at least the unions, Prescott in particular, got a feed off it.
I didn't realise they were doing water births out at Seaforth, usually a warm bath full does it.

No lecture intended," a discourse on any subject" is what I intended thank you for the "reprimand"
What could of been done in the sixties? Nearly every major port in the world was building deep water container BERTHS in the sixties.
The Merchant navy had a six week strike in sixty six, and was almost extinct by the mid seventies. John Prescott was a MN union official and then a MN sponsored labour MP. What is Docker Stock an oxo cube normally does it for me.

Having lived in Felixstowe and husband was employed in the shipping industry at the time. During the late eighties and early nineties the docks were beginning to struggle.
However, it was suggested to the dock workers that they took a reduction in pay, to which they almost unanimously agreed, thus saving their jobs. We can see how productive they are now, but to be honest they have a different attitude to work down there, which obviously benefits.

I should follow my own advice and never go on a social networking site and make comments when I've got a hangover. Things don't come out the way they're supposed to. Oh, well, back on the thrash this weekend.