Recently I ticked off a little piece of a big site which I have waited to see for nearly ten years. The few snaps we took do not warrant a report, so I thought I would raid the archive and tell some tales from exploring this amazing and gargantuan site. I've always been blown away with the whole area around these buildings. The walls, towers and warehouses are just incredible in size, age and detail. I am very happy indeed that there actually seems to be a viable future for the buildings, as the smaller warehouse is now a plush hotel, and the baccy warehouse is being hollowed out which I think it a very clever solution to a virtually unconvertable building.
I first laid eyes on the docks sometime in 2006. We had come up to Liverpool to climb the hydraulic tower in Birkenhead, and swung past to have a look before heading home. As the buildings had been designed to prevent pilfering of their valuable wares, actually getting into the site didn't look the easiest. I later learned that the enormous gates were open each and every Sunday for the Stanley Dock market, and that seemed to offer a chance of some mooching.
The first time we had a pop we stayed away from the market as much as possible and headed for the older, and smaller warehouse across the dock from the more impressive tobacco warehouse. To be fair it was a vast space, and looking back at it very untouched. But at the time I found it a little empty, and despite the fact that the larger building would most probably be very much the same we looked across the dock and craved a look around baccy warehouse. On the way out we did also manage the castle like hydraulic tower, which I seem to recall being a fetid pigeon crap infested affair, but with rather special views!
Having pushed our luck enough for one day we swung back round the fence and vowed to return to have a go at the main event.
It wasn't long before we had decided to return to have another pop. This time we entered the markets and famed interest in the stalls whilst looking for stairs. We didn't have a lot of luck to start with... all the stairs were either locked or blocked up with wood or boxes. We eventually ended up in a more quite part, and swinging a metal lift door open it appeared it would be possible to climb up to the level above. We all climbed into the lift shaft and closed the door, and then one by one used the lift cables to climb up. The next floor was totally deserted... we were in!
This image pretty sums up 90% of the building, and in the case of the tobacco warehouse that is a LOT of building!! Despite the fact there was little actually inside the fabric of the building was beautiful and incredibly impressive. I'd love to know how many of those iron pillars there are in the place!
However devoid of artifacts the place was. a building of that age and size is bound to have some original features... and they were there to see if one took the time to look.
We ventured to the top floor, here you can see the old market in full swing below, complete with Beatles music as a soundtrack to the explore.
The warehouse roof offered a cracking view of the hydraulic tower
And of the docks themselves. Note the pre-restored bridge.
A few more interesting features
I first laid eyes on the docks sometime in 2006. We had come up to Liverpool to climb the hydraulic tower in Birkenhead, and swung past to have a look before heading home. As the buildings had been designed to prevent pilfering of their valuable wares, actually getting into the site didn't look the easiest. I later learned that the enormous gates were open each and every Sunday for the Stanley Dock market, and that seemed to offer a chance of some mooching.
The first time we had a pop we stayed away from the market as much as possible and headed for the older, and smaller warehouse across the dock from the more impressive tobacco warehouse. To be fair it was a vast space, and looking back at it very untouched. But at the time I found it a little empty, and despite the fact that the larger building would most probably be very much the same we looked across the dock and craved a look around baccy warehouse. On the way out we did also manage the castle like hydraulic tower, which I seem to recall being a fetid pigeon crap infested affair, but with rather special views!
Having pushed our luck enough for one day we swung back round the fence and vowed to return to have a go at the main event.
It wasn't long before we had decided to return to have another pop. This time we entered the markets and famed interest in the stalls whilst looking for stairs. We didn't have a lot of luck to start with... all the stairs were either locked or blocked up with wood or boxes. We eventually ended up in a more quite part, and swinging a metal lift door open it appeared it would be possible to climb up to the level above. We all climbed into the lift shaft and closed the door, and then one by one used the lift cables to climb up. The next floor was totally deserted... we were in!
This image pretty sums up 90% of the building, and in the case of the tobacco warehouse that is a LOT of building!! Despite the fact there was little actually inside the fabric of the building was beautiful and incredibly impressive. I'd love to know how many of those iron pillars there are in the place!
However devoid of artifacts the place was. a building of that age and size is bound to have some original features... and they were there to see if one took the time to look.
We ventured to the top floor, here you can see the old market in full swing below, complete with Beatles music as a soundtrack to the explore.
The warehouse roof offered a cracking view of the hydraulic tower
And of the docks themselves. Note the pre-restored bridge.
A few more interesting features
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, cool photos 
