LARGEST single collection of Grade I listed buildings in the UK - Albert Dock, Liverpool, Merseyside, UK - Superlatives on Waymarking.com

The Royal Albert Dock is a complex of dock buildings and warehouses located on the waterfront in Liverpool, and is the largest single collection of Grade I listed buildings in the UK.

"The Royal Albert Dock is a complex of dock buildings and warehouses in Liverpool, England. Designed by Jesse Hartley and Philip Hardwick, it was opened in 1846, and was the first structure in Britain to be built from cast iron, brick and stone, with no structural wood. As a result, it was the first non-combustible warehouse system in the world. It was known simply as the Albert Dock until 2018, when it was granted a royal charter and had the honorific "Royal" added to its name.

At the time of its construction the dock was considered to be revolutionary in its design because ships were loaded and unloaded directly from or to the warehouses. Two years after it opened it was modified to feature the world's first hydraulic cranes. Due to its open yet secure design, the dock became a popular store for valuable cargoes such as brandy, cotton, tea, silk, tobacco, ivory and sugar. However, despite its advanced design, the rapid development of shipping technology meant that, within 50 years, larger and more open docks were required, although the Albert Dock remained a valuable store for cargo.

During the Second World War, the dock was requisitioned by the Admiralty serving as a base for boats of the British Atlantic Fleet. The complex was damaged during air raids on Liverpool, notably during the May Blitz of 1941. In the aftermath of the war, the financial problems of the owners and the general decline of docking in the city meant that the future of the Albert Dock was uncertain. Numerous plans were developed for the re-use of the buildings but none came to fruition and in 1972 the dock was finally closed. Having lain derelict for nearly ten years, the redevelopment of the dock began in 1981, when the Merseyside Development Corporation was set up, with the Albert Dock being officially re-opened in 1984.

Today the Royal Albert Dock is a major tourist attraction in the city and the most visited multi-use attraction in the United Kingdom, outside London. It is a vital component of Liverpool's UNESCO designated World Heritage Maritime Mercantile City and the docking complex and warehouses also comprise the largest single collection of Grade I listed buildings anywhere in the UK."
SOURCE: (visit link)

"1952 Making the grade
Post-war, the Dock is awarded Grade I listed status, and is now the largest single collection of Grade I listed buildings anywhere in the country. Its iconic cast iron columns measure four feet in diameter, and 25 feet high; its five blocks of five-storey warehouses are built from more than 23 million bricks." SOURCE: (visit link)

(visit link)

Type of documentation of superlative status: The Royal Albert Dock website Location of coordinates: Albert Dock sign near the Piermasters House Web Site: [Web Link]

Visit Instructions:


Post one photo of the waymark that is a different view from the one on the page and describe your visit, including the date. Other information that you may regarding the waymark is encouraged. Neither you nor your GPSr need to appear in any photos!

Recent Visits/Logs:

There are no logs for this waymark yet.