The Development of Southampton's Eastern Docks, 1842-1911

The development of Southampton Docks began in the late 1830s with the construction of the Inner and Outer Docks. The Outer Dock (also known as the Tidal Dock) was opened in 1842. The Inner Dock was opened to shipping in 1851, although it was not completed until 1859. This area changed significantly in the mid 1960s, when the Outer Dock was converted to the Princess Alexandra Ferry Terminal, and the Inner Dock was filled in. The Ocean Village complex was later built over much of this area.

Dry docks 1-3 were constructed between 1846 and 1854, with No. 2 dry dock, the smallest of the three, opened in 1847. All three docks were filled in during the 1960s when the Outer Dock was redeveloped. Dry Dock No. 4 was situated on the south east bank of the old Outer Dock. Constructed in 1879 it was the last to be built by the Southampton Dock Company. In the 1940s it was used mainly for servicing British Railways cross channel ferries and other vessels up to 6000 tons. It too was filled-in in the mid 1960s when the Outer Dock was redeveloped. The Prince of Wales Dry Dock (No. 5), situated south of the Empress Dock and opened in 1895, was the largest dry dock in the world at that time. Number 6 Dry Dock, was opened by the Marquis of Winchester on 21st October 1905, the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar. The dock, which overtook Dry Dock Number 6 as the largest in the world, was named Trafalgar Dry Dock in recognition of this. Trafalgar Dry Dock was last used for ship repairs in 1989.

By the 1880s the old Inner and Outer Docks were too small to cope with the increasingly large ships of the time, and it was decided to build a new and larger dock to the south of the old docks. The new dock was opened by Queen Victoria in 1890, and named Empress Dock in her honour.

The White Star Dock was opened in 1911. It was named after the White Star Line, probably the most important passenger line at the time, which had recently transferred its operations to Southampton. With the acquisition of the White Star Line, Southampton overtook Liverpool as the UK's premier passenger port. It was renamed Ocean Dock in 1922. In 1950 Ocean Terminal was built alongside Ocean Dock as a passenger terminal for liner passengers. It was opened by the Prime Minister, Clement Atlee. Built in typical Art-deco style, it was thought to be quite luxurious in its day. It measured 1297 feet in length and contained a railway platform on the lower floor. It was demolished in 1983.

In 1964 the old cargo sheds at berth 38/39 were demolished to make way for the new Queen Elizabeth II Terminal, the building being officially opened by the Queen in 1966. It was refurbished in 2003 in anticipation of the arrival of the Queen Mary 2.

Other developments include the vehicle terminal at berth 34 opened in 2001, and the Continental Grain Silo at berth 47, opened in 1985.