Michael Stammers – författare

The story of Liverpool is, in many ways, the story of its docks. Before the docks, trade was limited by the tides and at the mercy of the Mersey's currents. After dock construction began, the city became a hub of Britain's worldwide trading network. Cheshire Salt, Lancashire coal and textiles, Staffordshire pottery and Birmingham metal goods were all export staples and played an important part - until the 1807 abolition - in the infamous African slave trade. At the same time, sugar, rum, cotton and timber were exported in huge quantities. Through the expansion of the empire and the opportunities presented by steam power, the docks continued to grow and prosper. Even after the setbacks and bombing of the Second World War, trade rapidly recovered. However, the pace of change increased in the late 1950s and not to Liverpool's benefit. Passenger liners lost out to airliners (Cunard ships last called here in 1964) and changes in cargo handling led to the displacement of six traditional cargo liners for every new container vessel. There was competition from new container ports like Felixstowe as well as a range of local difficulties. With many contemporary illustrations of people, ships, buildings and machinery, Michael Stammers chronicles not just the rise and fall of Mersey shipping but also the way the docks have bounced back. Redevelopment, restoration and new modes of commerce have put Liverpool’s docks back in the black and the docks continue to be a significant part of the Liverpool of today, albeit a very different-looking docks to the port of over sixty years ago.

Suffolk is almost surrouned by waters. To the north are the rivers Waveney and Little Ouse, to the west the river Lark, to the south the river Stour, and to the east the North Sea. In the heyday of the North East coal trade, hundreds of sailing colliers negotiated the complex of shoals off the Suffolk coast, and the lighthouses at Lowestoft and Orford were welcome beacons on their passages. Today, the coastal trade is much reduced. The coal trade has gone and has been replaced by traffic in furl, oil, petrol and diesel from the refineries of local distribution depots. On the other hand, bulk cargoes such as grain, stone and timber are still carried by coaster. There are also new trades such as delivery of steel plate and coastal container services. Suffolk Shipping covers just some of the wide range of vessels that have been a part of the maritime scenery of the county for the past two millennia.

Looking at ships over the past two millennia, this book considers the question of 'what happens to a ship when it's no longer needed for its original purpose?' From Roman galleys to ship-wrecking, the whole history of shipping is considered in answering the question.