Volume Twelve - Pre-Victorian to the Present Day - further aspects - The Bristol Channel District Guide - selected articles - [1934 Edition] . . . .

We have now accomplished a distance of five miles, and, steaming ahead another mile, we approach the junction of the rivers Avon and Severn, and on our right observe the large ocean docks, the Royal Edward Dock and the Avonmouth Dock, which together with those at Bristol and Portishead comprise the docks of the Port of Bristol.

Being municipally owned, the Bristol Docks are in the almost unique position among the great docks of the country. The citizens of Bristol have invested over 8¼ millions in the dock undertakings, the management of which is vested in a Dock Committee of the City Council functioning under the style of the Port of Bristol Authority.

The Avonmouth Dock was opened in 1877, and the Royal Edward Dock, the largest and most modern, which adjoins, has the honour of triple Royal patronage, as the first excavation was made by the present King when Prince of Wales ;  the dock was opened by H.M. King Edward in 1908 ; and the new " Eastern Arm " extension was opened in 1928 by H.R.H. the Prince of Wales.

The docks are fully equipped with modern transit sheds, warehouses, granaries, cold stores, timber sheds and yards, graving dock, and mechanical handling appliances, including cranes up to 35 tons capacity, floating grain elevators, etc., enabling all classes of merchandise to be dealt with expeditiously and economically.

The new "Eastern Arm " extension of the Royal Edward Dock, which was constructed at a cost of over 1¼ million pounds, provides six additional berths and adds eighteen acres to the water area of the docks.

Port of Bristol - Pay a Visit to the Docks - an advertisement.

More than 10 per cent. of the grain imported into the United Kingdom is received at the Port. The annual importation approaches 1,000,000 tons.