Early 19th century Dover Shipping Scene
- 23 May 2010 16:3753057Came across this old painting of early 19th century Dover. I`m not too familiar with the pre railway built piers, so just wondered how authentic this scene is, or whether a bit of freelance. It was painted by George Chambers, 1803-40, a painter from Whitby in Yorkshire, and shows a brig leaving the port followed by a paddle steamer, whilst a boat load of fishermen arrive back. Copies of this print are available from the National Maritime museum at Greenwich, and what a colourful picture it makes. Seeing those waves though, I wonder if the `F`word was about at that time?
Tell them that I came, and no one answered. - 23 May 2010 16:4553060Great painting there Colin, a mite choppy to say the least
- 23 May 2010 17:0453064Is quite accurate as it shows the two 'rises' where St Martins Battery and the Drop Redoubt are to the left and the ends of the jetties are just like this old photo I have :
Been nice knowing you :) - 23 May 2010 19:1553067Very interesting, thank you both.
- 1 June 2010 02:4754366The piers are the North and South piers which have formed the entrance to the original docks for over four hundred years. Obviously they will have been rebuilt many times over the years and the amount showing above the water will be dependent on the state of the tide. Today, they comprise the entrance to the Tidal Basin with the developments from the late nineteenth century onward extending seaward, as seen in the Marina diagram at the foot of this post.
A similar view to that posted by Colin is a canvas print I purchased some time ago, entitled Dover Harbour by Edward William Cooke, 1811-1880. Again, there is a sailing ship being followed through the pierheads by one of the early steam packet boats. The first of these was the Rob Roy in 1821 which was followed by a succession of similar small paddlewheel packet boats carrying the mail. There are numerous illustrations showing these vessels with the very tall single funnel characterising the ones in the pictures.
Full size image on my fotopic site at:
http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/p65145172.html
Some charts depicting the development of the harbour and showing the North and South piers:
- 1 June 2010 06:4354369A fine print there Ed, and I`ve been studying that 1596 map you`ve placed above for the past half hour. It`s facinating trying to imagine it like that. Is that the earliest map existing of the port, or is there anything earlier?Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
- 1 June 2010 11:2554417There are any number of earlier maps going back to Roman times, Colin. Have put a few on my fotopic site and will add to them in due course. Can be viewed full size on the link below:
http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1285660.html
Here is a sketch of the progression through the ages:
- 18 June 2010 16:5656903Here is a postcard, just received, of scallop boats entering between the North and South pierheads at high tide. One for this thread and the ones bemoaning the loss of commercial fishing from Dover!
Full size view at:
http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/p65437167.html - 18 June 2010 17:0356906Great picture there Ed, and is that an early colour photograph or a hand coloured photograph? The sea looks like a photograph, whereas the boats look like paintings. It`s an excellent picture mate.Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
- 18 June 2010 17:4556921Definitely hand coloured, Colin. As for date, the construction work on the Southern breakwater nearing completion in the background shows it to be 1908-09.
- 18 June 2010 18:3456935Thanks for that Ed. Wow, what this forum`s brought to light. Makes you wonder what other gems are still around undiscovered. I`m sure other items are all over the country/world, depicting Dover amongst other places, but not readily recognised as such.Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
- 19 June 2010 14:1357022I love scallops, but I presume they aren't "landed" here anymore?
