He produced plans in November 1783, for a project which involved rebuilding the bulging wall, and the construction of another short pier from the opposite bank of the river, so that gates could be fitted between the two.

John Rennie's plans for a Glasson branch formed the basis for the Lancaster Canal Act 1793 (33 Geo.

The 2.5-mile (4.0 km) branch dropped through 52 feet (16 m) from Galgate, and the basic engineering was completed in December 1825, but financial difficulties meant that warehousing and wharves could not be constructed at first, and so the build-up of trade was slow.

Incoming trade included slate, timber, potatoes and grain, while coal was exported through the port to Ulverston, North Wales and Ireland.

The shipyards were largely concerned with ship repair rather than shipbuilding, eventually closing in 1968, with the dry dock filled in a year later.

[1] The quay was connected to the railway network at Lancaster in 1883, by a 5 mile branch line that operated until the cessation of passenger services on 5 July 1930.

The trackbed of the disused branchline is now a linear park and cycleway that forms part of the larger Bay Cycle Way.

The entrance to the dock is controlled by traffic lights and travelling down river is only safe for an hour immediately after high water.