Poster: pianola
(see this users gallery)
As I understand it, Shackle's Dock was originally used in the nineteenth century by the Shackle family and their workers for loading bricks from the brickworks which they owned. When Aeolian bought the land in 1908, they used the dock mainly for deliveries of timber. I heard that the Aeolian deputy works manager at Hayes was caught diverting whole bargeloads of timber on the side, which cost the Company a great deal of money.
The dock in 1999 was almost invisible, unless you peered over the bridge from the canal walk, or if you worked in the industrial buildings that can be seen through the trees. It was certainly not in use then, but it could one day be an attractive little watering place, with a pub or two. Who knows!
|
