Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom — Northwestern Europe (the British Isles)

Building the Dock 1864-1867 / Hamilton Dock

Building the Dock 1864-1867 Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., May 14, 2019

1. Building the Dock 1864-1867 Marker

Inscription.

Building the Dock 1864-1867, also, Hamilton Dock. . [Front], Building the Dock 1864-1867. , The construction of Hamilton Dock began in February 1864 and was finished within three years., [Top blue inset caption reads] This is the office of the Deputy Harbour Master, whose duties included overseeing Abercorn Basin and Hamilton Dock., [Lower blue inset caption reads] A team of 450 men worked to build Hamilton Dock and Abercorn Basin., [Illustration captions read], Above, right The dock was constructed at a location convenient to Harland and Wolff's shipyard, Right Hamilton Graving Dock plan, c. mid-20th Century., Below A paddle steamer being repaired in Hamilton Dock. The Pump House is visible in the background., [Back], Hamilton Dock Concept and Controversy. , Hamilton Graving Dock was built by the Belfast Harbour Commissioners and named after their Chairman James Hamilton, a prosperous local merchant., Used for the cleaning, repairing and fitting-out of ships, the dock served both the shipbuilding industry and the business of the port., Its position on the Co. Down side of the Lagan was divisive. The shipwrights, who mostly lived on the Co. Antrim side of the river, were unhappy with their longer commute to work; even James Hamilton was not in favour of its position at first. The threat of Edward Harland to move his firm to Liverpool if the dock was not built in Co. Down, however, decided matters and bound Belfast's fate and success with that of Harland and Wolff., The dock was opened by the Marquis of Abercorn, after whom the Abercorn Basin is named, in a ceremony attended by thousands of people and which included 'a brilliant fireworks display'., 'Could any propose that respectable mechanics would go to live in Ballymacarrett?... It would be absurd to force them across the river to Ballymacarrett.' James Hamilton (below), Harbour Commissioner, Belfast News Letter, 26 November 1862, Construction started on Hamilton Dock in 1864, following some controversy over its location., [Blue inset caption reads] Queen's Island and Hamilton Dock would eventually be constructed in this location., [Illustration captions read], Above SS Majestic moored in Abercorn Basin next to the entrance to Hamilton Dock, which is closed off by its caisson., Right Hamilton Graving Dock was the first dock to be located on the Co. Down side of the Lagan. This map shows the Lagan in 1846-1847, before the Victoria Channel was created., Below James Hamilton, the Harbour Commissioner after whom Hamilton Dry [Graving] Dock was eventually named, was not in favour of building the dock on the County Down side of the Lagan when it was first proposed. Here he is depicted holding the plans for Hamilton Dock in his hands.

[Front]

Building the Dock 1864-1867

The construction of Hamilton Dock began in February 1864 and was finished within three years.

[Top blue inset caption reads]
This is the office of the Deputy Harbour Master, whose duties included overseeing Abercorn Basin and Hamilton Dock.

[Lower blue inset caption reads]
A team of 450 men worked to build Hamilton Dock and Abercorn Basin.

[Illustration captions read]

Above, right The dock was constructed at a location convenient to Harland and Wolff's shipyard

Right Hamilton Graving Dock plan, c. mid-20th Century.

Below A paddle steamer being repaired in Hamilton Dock. The Pump House is visible in the background.

[Back]

Hamilton Dock
Concept and Controversy

Hamilton Graving Dock was built by the Belfast Harbour Commissioners and named after their Chairman James Hamilton, a prosperous local merchant.

Used for the cleaning, repairing and fitting-out of ships, the dock served both the shipbuilding industry and the business of the port.

Its position on the Co. Down side of the Lagan was divisive. The shipwrights, who mostly lived on the Co. Antrim side of the river, were unhappy

Paid Advertisement

Click on the ad for more information.
Please report objectionable advertising to the Editor.

Click or scan to see
this page online

with their longer commute to work; even James Hamilton was not in favour of its position at first. The threat of Edward Harland to move his firm to Liverpool if the dock was not built in Co. Down, however, decided matters and bound Belfast's fate and success with that of Harland and Wolff.

The dock was opened by the Marquis of Abercorn, after whom the Abercorn Basin is named, in a ceremony attended by thousands of people and which included 'a brilliant fireworks display'.

'Could any propose that respectable mechanics would go to live in Ballymacarrett?... It would be absurd to force them across the river to Ballymacarrett.'
James Hamilton (below), Harbour Commissioner,
Belfast News Letter, 26 November 1862

Construction started on Hamilton Dock in 1864, following some controversy over its location.

[Blue inset caption reads]
Queen's Island and Hamilton Dock would eventually be constructed in this location.

[Illustration captions read]

Above SS Majestic moored in Abercorn Basin next to the entrance to Hamilton Dock, which is closed off by its caisson.

Right Hamilton Graving Dock was the first dock to be located on the Co. Down side of the Lagan. This map shows the Lagan in 1846-1847, before the Victoria Channel was created.

Below James Hamilton,

Hamilton Dock Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., May 14, 2019

2. Hamilton Dock Marker

the Harbour Commissioner after whom Hamilton Dry [Graving] Dock was eventually named, was not in favour of building the dock on the County Down side of the Lagan when it was first proposed. Here he is depicted holding the plans for Hamilton Dock in his hands.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical month for this entry is February 1864.

Location. 54° 36.383′ N, 5° 54.697′ W. Marker is in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Marker is on Queens Road, on the left when traveling north. Part of the Titanic Belfast complex. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: Hamilton Dock, Belfast, Northern Ireland BT3 9DT, United Kingdom. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Queen's Island Shipyard / Hamilton Dock (here, next to this marker); Building the Dock 1864-1867 / Belfast's Industrial Growth (here, next to this marker); Queen's Island Shipyard / Belfast's Industrial Growth (here, next to this marker); Hamilton Dock Stone Construction (here, next to this marker); a different marker also named Hamilton Dock Stone Construction (here, next to this marker); Nomadic in Hamilton Dock (a few steps from this marker); Operating the [Hamilton] Dock (a few steps from this marker); Features of the Dock (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Belfast.

Also see . . .

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., May 14, 2019

3. Building the Dock 1864-1867 Marker

1. The Hamilton Graving Dock. Titanic Belfast website entry (Submitted on June 16, 2019, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)

2. Shipbuilding in Belfast. Culture Northern Ireland website entry (Submitted on June 16, 2019, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)

3. Harland and Wolff. Wikipedia entry (Submitted on June 16, 2019, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., May 14, 2019

4. Hamilton Dock Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on September 7, 2022. It was originally submitted on June 16, 2019, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 148 times since then and 25 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on June 16, 2019, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.