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Princes Pier was originally know by other
names - Albert Pier & West End Pier
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Circa. 1904 |
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Greenock Pilot Station |
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Princes
Pier was built out into the Bay of Quick. Work began in 1862 and
completed in 1870 at an estimated
cost of £100,000.
An
extension costing a further £14,000 was added in 1921.
The
original frontage was 2,206 feet, and the sea frontage available for
bearthing was 1,250 feet.
The
Italianate towers were a dominating feature in the wide facade, which was
built of red Ruabon brick.
The
West end of the Pier had a small harbour area utilised by smaller boats.
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The Pier had many historic moments,
and this rather unusual one was when the victorious England
cricket team returned home - and for some reason to Princes
Pier, Greenock - with the Ashes.
They are seen here being greeted by the Provost of the
Greenock in 1933.
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Princes
Pier probably enjoyed it's best days when railway companies and small
steamer companies where competing fiercely for business. The railway
connection ran to St Enoch's station in Glasgow. Passenger services were
terminated in January 1959.
Sadly
however
from the 1920's Gourock Pier provided much competition and this resulted
in a steady decline of the numbers using Princes Pier.
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During the war years Princes Pier
was put to use as a terminal for troop transport.
US Army nurses, newly arrived, line the rail of their vessel
as it pulls into Princes Pier, Greenock, in European Theatre
of Operations.
They wait to disembark as the gangplank is lowered to the
pier - 15th August 1944
After the war it was much used by small tenders such as
ferries to take passengers out to the trans-Atlantic liners
calling at the Tail o’ the Bank. In 1952 - over 2,200
passengers landed at Greenock from Canada, and by 1958 it
had increased to over 8,400. |
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The
berth at the pier was deepened in 1957 from 20 feet to 28 feet at low
water, which meant that small liners could tie up alongside the pier.
Following
the closure of the railway line in 1959, and the diversion of steamers to
Gourock and liners to Southampton, it was decided by the Greenock Harbour
Trust in 1965 to implement a £13 million development scheme.
This
resulted in the demolition of Princes Pier and the construction of the
existing Container Terminal, which was opened in 1969.
Although
I can understand the economic reasons, I feel Greenock lost a great piece
of it's history and architecture. I also feel that today it would have
been a listed building, though like so many listed buildings, I have no
doubt it would have been run into ruin rather than maintained.
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This is typical of the liners taking immigrants to Australia during
the 1950's |
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One
of the Empress Liners off Greenock |
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The
small steamers would ferry the passengers out to the Tail 'o' The Bank.
There was much traffic as
Australia was seeking to bring skilled craftsmen over to the
growing country.
Families could go over by boat
at minimal cost and start new lives. |
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As
a port, Greenock always had a great advantage with it's deep water. With
the railway companies coming along it enhanced the importance and opened
up the Clyde coast in general.
The
Glasgow, Paisley and Greenock line was opened in 1841 at an estimated cost
of £814,000, and the journey time was just one hour and five
minutes.
The
first station opened in Greenock was near the Customhouse Quay, and
steamer connections were introduced and harbour railway lines were laid,
mostly for mineral traffic.
A
second line was built through the town on a high level to enable the coast
at Wemyss Bay to be reached in 1865.
Later
another railway line was laid from Kilmacolm, running under Greenock in a
long steep tunnel emerging at Princes Pier and serving the Albert Harbour
as well.
The
Gourock
line was opened in 1889 and this resulted in a decline of the popularity
of the Kilmacolm service and it was finally withdrawn in January 1959.
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PS Minerva & Windsor
Castle tied up at the Pier.
c 1900
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The
steamers all racing off
the pier.
These were competitive
times ....
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Viewed from West to East |
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Princes
Pier from
the air
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A good clear view of the
buildings |
This was a favourite area
of mine, and it's demolition was a great loss to Greenock in my humble opinion.
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