Prince of Wales Graving Dock in Southampton was at one time the largest dry dock in the world. It opened in 1895, and was also known as 'Prince of Wales Dry Dock' or 'Dry Dock No 5'. For some years, i
Prince of Wales Graving Dock in Southampton shortly after completion
Southampton Docks c. 1895
Cross section with tides.
Almost completed, 1895
Caisson (lock gate)
Videos
A caisson is a form of lock gate. It consists of a large floating iron or steel box. This can be flooded to seat the caisson in the opening of the dock to close it, or pumped dry to float it and allow
Prince of Wales Graving Dock (Southampton)
…of the walls reached 53 ft (16.2 m) below cope level. The foundation of the floor started 59 ft (18.0 m) below coping level. The dock was closed by a ship caisson built by Rennie & Co. of Greenwich. This carried a road and railway from the Empress Dock to the Itchen New Quays. West of the entrance, there was a…
Ship caisson at Droogdok Jan Blanken at Hellevoetsluis
Graving docks at Birkenhead, closed by a variety of ship caissons and floating (sliding) caissons
The base of the caisson closing the graving dock where the SS Great Britain was constructed.
Derelict sliding caisson in Cardiff Docks. The caisson retracted into the recess beyond. It was worked by the cable winch in the foreground.