Mersey Dredgers

Due to the narrowing estuary between Birkenhead and Liverpool, the Mersey with its strong tidal currents was prone to silting. The resulting sand bars caused major problems for larger ships, and the channel had to be dredged to increase its navigable depth.

This image shows a dredger ship under repair at the Canning Graving Dock, and the dome-less Custom House can be seen on the far left. This watercolour was included in the second “Recording Merseyside” exhibition at the Bluecoat Chambers in 1946, organised by the City Council to visually record Liverpool's landscape immediately after World War II.