Widnes Dock

Widnes Dock was the first rail-to-ship facility in the world.

[1] It was built in 1833 between the end of the Sankey Canal and the St Helens and Runcorn Gap Railway in Widnes.

The island was at the centre of the chemical industry in the 19th century and became heavily polluted.

In operation the dock was topped up by its own adjacent reservoir.

During this time part of the original dock was dug out to a depth of around 3 feet.