George's Dock Building

George's Dock Building is a Grade II listed structure at Pier Head with a central ventilation shaft shaped like an obelisk made of Portland stone. The building houses offices and control systems that manage air circulation within the Mersey Tunnel below the River.

Herbert James Rowse designed this structure between 1931 and 1934 as an essential ventilation facility for the Queensway Tunnel running beneath the river. The project was part of a broader infrastructure development that shaped the waterfront during that period.

The building displays sculptures by Edmund Thompson and George Capstick, including decorative reliefs that are woven into its exterior design. These artworks give the structure a distinctive visual character that reflects craftsmanship of the period.

The building is visible from the outside and sits in an easily accessible part of the harbor. The best time to view it is during daylight hours when light highlights the sculptural details and stone surfaces.

Inside the building stands a memorial honoring seventeen workers who died during construction of the Queensway Tunnel. This commemorative site marks a reminder of the human cost behind the underwater passage.

Location: Liverpool

Architects: Herbert James Rowse

GPS coordinates: 53.40466,-2.99395

Latest update: December 11, 2025 11:07