Tilbury Docks

It's probably true to say that Port of Tilbury is not likely to be featuring high on anybody's lists of places to visit in Essex. However with the port marking it's 125 anniversary, they threw open their doors for an open day that included a tour and a talk from the Heritage and Museum officer from the local council.

Unfortunately I missed the opening few minutes of Jonathan Catton's excellent talk, however there was still plenty to learn. After a slow start, the port grew in popularity with the growth in transatlantic shipping, liners travelling to America, Australia and India. Amongst those to arrive or depart from the port were touring cricket and rugby teams from down under, Gandhi on his way to study in London and Mark Twain who was given a rousing welcome from the stevedores working on the docks.

Famously, the Empire Windrush docked at Tilbury, bringing migrants from the West Indies, many of whom had fought in the British Army in WWII. Leaving the UK, Tilbury was the point of departure for many an entrepreneur heading out to try their luck in the Australian gold rush, or in America.

These days, the port is largely known for freight handling particularly container shipping which was emphasised by the bus tour of the huge site. Wood and paper from Finland and Sweden, grain from all over the world and Hyundai cars from South Korea are amongst the goods arriving from overseas. Leaving these shores seemed to mostly be scrap; metal, cars, paper - all destined to be recycled in Africa.

To finish, here is a quote from a speech that Mark Twain gave to the Oxford literary society the Savages in 1906:

When I came ashore at Tilbury the stevedores on the dock raised the first welcome --a good and hearty welcome from the men who do the heavy labor in the world, and save you and me having to do it. They are the men who with their hands build empires and make them prosper. 

 
It is because of them that the others are wealthy and can live in luxury. They received me with a "Hurrah!" that went to my heart. They are the men that build civilization, and without them no civilization can be built. So I came first to the authors and creators of civilization, and I blessedly end
this happy meeting with the Savages who destroy it.

Click on the photos to see more pictures in the Flickr account.