William Jessop’s system of dams and locks kept ships afloat at the quaysides at all times, while a new course for the river Avon (the New Cut) provided a tidal bypass. This massive civil engineering project took five years to complete and cost twice the original estimates, but it improved the efficiency of the port and allowed the City Docks to thrive until the 1960s.
Today the Floating Harbour remains an important and iconic feature of the city. No longer a working port it has been transformed into a place of new apartments, office jobs, leisure and tourism.
Peter Malpass and Andy King tell the story of the Floating Harbour from the earliest proposals right through to the present day – drawing on original research and the huge collection of paintings and photographs held in the City’s collections.
Profusely illustrated in colour and black & white with paintings and atmospheric photographs of the city docks at work. 160pp
ISBN 978-1-906593-28-5
