Opening Of The New Lock, Alexandra Dock Newport 1914
Photo reference number: 1156
Huxtable Brothers postcard. Postmarked 21st July 1914.
The message on the reverse of the card (from Polly, 27 Pugsley Street Newport, to Mrs Longville, Huntington Place Newcastle Tynemouth) reads:
"Jear Jennie,
Just a card showing the opening of New Lock with Lord Tredegar's yacht there were some thousands of people in Newport and it turned out a lovely day after a morning of heavy rain.
Polly"
"The new South Lock, or Great Sea Lock, allowed shipping to enter the Docks directly from the Bristol Channel for the first time. At over 1000 feet long and 100 feet wide it was claimed that the Lock was the largest in the World and ensured that Newport was easily able to accommodate the largest ships then afloat. The South Lock was officially opened on 14th July 1914 by Prince Arthur of Connaught, the Son of King George V. Lord Tredegar's steam yacht 'The Liberty' became the first ship to pass through the Lock, when it transported Prince Albert to the Docks during the celebrations." (Text from Newport Harbour Commissioners' website.)
Peter Brown has pointed out that the Prince who opened the South Dock in 1914 was not the son of George V, as the Harbour Commissioners' website states. Prince Arthur of Connaught was the son of Queen Victoria, rather than George's son of the same name, who was never a Prince.
See our pages (and a video) about the Newport Dock Disaster which occurred during the construction of the lock.
