Restoration experts bring past to life

Bryn Lisle: “It’s not simply an old wall — the Old Dock represents far more than that for Liverpool.”

Oldham restoration expert Maysand was the specialist time team behind the repair of Liverpool’s historic Old Dock.

The world’s first commercial enclosed wet dock is opening to the public in May as Liverpool’s latest historic attraction.

It was discovered during excavations in 2001 after being buried since 1826.

Maysand was then instructed by developers Grosvenor to help to preserve the dock and make it accessible to the public.

The newly-restored dock wall section is now beneath the Liverpool One development.

“It’s not simply an old wall — the old dock represents far more than that for Liverpool,” said Maysand managing director Bryn Lisle.

“It’s an important piece of the city’s heritage because the dock sparked Liverpool’s transformation into a major trading post.

“When it was built in 1715, it was the world’s first ever commercial enclosed wet dock.

“Before it, Liverpool was little more than a village. It is difficult to underestimate the importance of old dock in the story of Liverpool itself.”

The wall was rediscovered during excavations by Oxford Archaeology North in 2001.

Maysand worked on the old dock wall alongside a team of archaeologists. Team members took down the wall, carefully rebuilt it and pointed it before cleaning it.

“It has been turned into a fascinating piece of the city’s rich past and it was wonderful to be able to work on such a prestigious project,” said Bryn.

The attraction will open on Tuesday, May 4, and shows the north-east section of the dock and also includes a tunnel that could have once linked to Liverpool Castle.

It is equipped with special displays, and a giant projector screen shows how the dock would have looked in its typical river front setting in 1715.

Maysand, based in Royton, has worked on a wide range of restoration, regeneration and preservation projects, such as Chester City Walls, Manchester City Art Gallery, Dunham Massey, the Port of Liverpool Building and Chetham’s School of Music.