North Shields, Smith's Dock, Number 8 Graving Dock

HER Number:
16140

District:
N Tyneside

Site Name:
North Shields, Smith's Dock, Number 8 Graving Dock

Place:
North Shields

Map Sheet:
NZ36NE

Class:
Maritime

Site Type: Broad:
Marine Construction Site

Site Type: Specific:
Dry Dock

General Period:
Modern

Specific Period:
C20

Form of Evidence:
Destroyed Monument

Description:
This is the largest and latest dock on the Smith's Dock site. It opened in 1954. The scale of the dock is a reflection of the increase in size of oil tankers which were the stock trade of the yard. The dock is skewed at 28.5 degrees to the riverside and runs into sloping ground, which necessitated the excavation of great quantities of spoil including the remains of Smith's Ballast Shore. Thick sheet piling was used during the construction of the dock to cut down on the quantitiy of concrete involved. All walls are symmetrical with a 'v' shaped forward end. The pumping chamber sits on the western flank of the dock adjacent to the gate. This latter is a single leaf flap and was, at the time, the largest example of such a gate in the world. Dimensions - 216.1m x 28.9m x 8.2m deep. Recorded in 2005.

Easting:
3543

Northing:
6733

Grid Reference:
NZ35436733

Lats/Lons:

Sources:
The Archaeological Practice Ltd. 2005, Smith's Dock and A&P Tyne, North Shields, Historic Buildings Recording