Bringing Drogheda’s dock history to life
UNIQUE REPORTS FROM 1800S REVEAL LIFE ON DROGHEDA’S PORT
SOME of the rich and varied history and heritage of the town’s docks have been revealed in recently discovered documents.
Drogheda Port Company has donated a unique set of local maritime reports to Drogheda Museum Millmount, which form part of the port’s overall maritime archive.
These particular original reports date from 1853 to 1907 and contain the annual financial reports of the company and a detailed engineering report of the activities of the company over the course of the particular Year.
The reports provide a wealth of information on the port activities at the time, the state of the river, dredging, wall and beacon construction, the condition of the steam barges and tugs. Many of the localised place names are long forgotten but preserved in the reports.
‘ The company is delighted to be in a position to share some of its unique historical archives with the Old Drogheda Society through its museum who do such sterling work in preserving the town’s history,’ said Paul Fleming CEO Drogheda Port Company.
‘ The port has always been central to this and documents such as these are so important in documenting particularly the town’s industrial past. They give such an insight to the day to day activities of times long past.’
The accounts and reports were published each year and produced in local printing houses like Alex McDougal 5 Peter Street, Samuel Wisdom 20 Fair Street and the Reporter Office 15 Laurence Street.
An extract from a report in 1874 says: ‘In the early part of the previous year the board of the port had under its consideration the desirability of extending the quays on the north side of the river eastward of the viaduct where berths could be deepened so as to admit foreign grain vessels. After due deliberation it was agreed to have the work executed. The work commenced in early September and was finished in October the following year.
The berth was opened on Friday 24th October 1874 by a large grain vessel from Baltimore USA with a cargo of corn for Messrs Chadwick of this town. The master of the vessel ‘Captain Martin’ performed the usual ceremony of christening and called it in honour of the merchants Chadwick Quay. He hoped that his vessel the ‘pioneer’ would be the forerunner of a class of vessel that would increase in numbers at the port.’
Speaking at the presentation of the documents Betty Quinn, Curator, Drogheda Museum Millmount said how pleased the museum is to accept these hugely important reports and is extremely grateful to the Port Company for its donation.
‘ The documents will be added to the museum’s own extensive archive and will greatly improve our understanding of the vital contribution made by the port and its workers to the development of the town and its economic welfare through the ages,’ she added.
‘ The museum looks forward to developing this relationship with the Port Company with a view to further preserving, presenting and promoting its exciting heritage for the benefit of the people of Drogheda.’