Tuesday, August 5, 2025

ABP seeks Listed Building Consent for Grimsby’s unique Dock Tower

Listed Building Consent has been sought for conservation works on Grimsby’s iconic Dock Tower landmark, the only one of its kind in the country.

Owners ABP wants to embark on key structural repairs on the parapets, building of a new staircase, and drainage. If approved by North East Lincolnshire Council, work could start on the historical structure later this year in the hope it can reopen to the public.

Simon Bird, Regional Director of the Humber ports, said: “It was during some routine maintenance work that it was picked up some of the further works that needed to be done to ensure the tower remains safe and accessible for the future.

“The Dock Tower is the jewel in the Port of Grimsby. It has been a beacon to so many over the years and for Grimbarians it is a symbol of home. As its custodians we have over the years spent time and money maintaining it, as it has such architectural historic value, and will be here for many more years to come once these essential works are carried out.”

Jenny Bulmer, Conservation Engineer of Alan Wood & Partners said: “Opportunities to work on such a unique and historically significant building as this come about rarely.  Being able to discover some of the building archaeology and the history of its use throughout the process is a real privilege.  Getting to see the tower brought back to life with a renewed purpose is something we can all look forward to.”

Standing 309 feet (94.2m) tall to the top of the lantern, the tower was finished on 27 March 1852 to power the hydraulic machinery of Grimsby docks. Its height was to achieve the sufficient pressure needed to operate the machines.

It was built by James Meadows Rendel, the civil engineer who constructed the docks at Grimsby between 1844 and 1853 and opened by Queen Victoria when she visited the port in October 1854. The designer was James William Wild, an architect born in Lincoln.

The current plans submitted include:

  • Insertion of a new staircase
  • Installation of internal lighting
  • Brickwork repairs
  • Metalwork repairs
  • Paintwork
  • Roofing
  • Floor repairs
  • Drainage
  • Interpretation panels

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our news site - please take a moment to read this important message:

As you know, our aim is to bring you, the reader, an editorially led news site and magazine but journalism costs money and we rely on advertising, print and digital revenues to help to support them.

With the Covid-19 pandemic having a major impact on our industry as a whole, the advertising revenues we normally receive, which helps us cover the cost of our journalists and this website, have been drastically affected.

As such we need your help. If you can support our news sites/magazines with either a small donation of even £1, or a subscription to our magazine, which costs just £27.55 per year, (inc p&P and mailed direct to your door) your generosity will help us weather the storm and continue in our quest to deliver quality journalism.

As a subscriber, you will have unlimited access to our web site and magazine. You'll also be offered VIP invitations to our events, preferential rates to all our awards and get access to exclusive newsletters and content.

Just click here to subscribe and in the meantime may I wish you the very best.

Advertisment












Latest posts

Town centre transformation continues in Grimsby

The transformation of Grimsby town centre is continuing as work starts next week (11 August) to clear a site on Osborne Street. The plan is...

Lincolnshire food and drink gift company secures £500k investment

Luxury food and drink gift company, IMP & MAKER, has secured a £500,000 investment in a deal that values the business at £2m. The funding...

Welding workshop sparks ambition among Lincolnshire schoolgirls

A group of 25 female students from across Lincolnshire got a hands-on introduction to welding and pipefitting during a one-day event aimed at challenging...

Community venues in Bottesford receive £320k upgrade

Two popular community spaces in Bottesford are set for major improvements following a £320,000 funding boost from North Lincolnshire Council. Bottesford Football Club will receive...

Top Lincolnshire attractions earn global travel recognition

Three of Lincolnshire’s best-known attractions have been ranked among the top 10 per cent of visitor destinations worldwide after earning Tripadvisor’s Travellers’ Choice Awards. Lincoln...

By continuing to use the site, you agree to the use of cookies. more information

The cookie settings on this website are set to "allow cookies" to give you the best browsing experience possible. If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this.

Close