Liverpool Old Dock Establishes Wet Dock Model
Steers' earlier enclosed wet dock demonstrated an approach to handling ships without constant dependence on the Mersey tides. It connected dock geometry to the commercial requirements of shipping.
Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03
Thomas Steers Biography and Timeline
Follow Thomas Steers through 6 dated historical records for England.
Thomas Steers, historical timeline
A chronological timeline drawn from matching World History Database records.
6Distinct records
1 of 1Page
1715–1745Years on this page
1715
1734
South Dock Concept Takes Shape
Planning for another enclosed Liverpool basin responded to congestion as maritime commerce increased. The development illustrates why Liverpool invested in controlled berths.
1737
Salthouse Site Constraints Shape Basin Plan
Steers designed the proposed dock to fit a confined waterfront site rather than imposing a regular rectangular plan. The intervention adapted an old dock to later demands on port infrastructure.
South Dock Authorised By Parliament
A Liverpool dock act sanctioned an additional basin intended particularly to accommodate the salt trade. It linked the salt trade with new waterfront capacity.
1740
Wet Dock Wall Geometry Refined
The planned basin relied on masonry retaining walls to provide sheltered deepwater berths within an irregular footprint. Its significance lay in the relationship between docks and adjoining quays.
1745
Dock Entrance Design Accounts For Tides
The new basin's controlled access needed to accommodate the considerable tidal movement of the River Mersey. The change expanded options for the use of Liverpool dock facilities.
Records, sources and methodology
These dates and descriptions come from the historical_events database. Exact duplicate records have been collapsed. Names are grouped by the country, Name 2 and Name 1 fields; records with missing Name 2 cannot be reliably assigned to an individual biography. Check the underlying sources before formal citation.