Just over 50 years ago, the future of one of Liverpool’s most famous landmarks was hanging in the balance.
After construction in 1846, The Royal Albert Dock had witnessed close to 100 years of trade passing through its waters and filling its warehouses before its fortunes rapidly changed. The distinctive collection of buildings had already suffered through relentless bombing raids during the second world war, but it then faced an economic bombardment in the decades after.
As Liverpool’s strength as a port waned, with Europe emerging as the UK’s main partner and Liverpool stuck on the wrong side of the country, the enormous trading capabilities of the Albert Dock were increasingly redundant. It was eventually abandoned with its waters silting up.
