The dock was designed by Anthony George Lyster.[1] Construction began in 1905, from the land reclaimed during the construction of the Great Float.[2] During its construction on 6 March 1909, a temporary dam collapsed, killing 14 navvies. This incident is now referred to as the Birkenhead Dock Disaster. The dock was opened in 1909, having warehouses on either side.[3]
An alternative view is that Vittoria Dock has derived its name as a tribute to the first ship to circumnavigate the globe, Magellan'sVittoria.[4]
However, Magellan's ship was named after the church of Santa María de la Victoria de Triana, therefore, this Vittoria naming may be questioned.
Vittoria Dock is sometimes incorrectly quoted as 'Victoria Dock', thought in reference to Queen Victoria. However, the wharf was originally known as Victoria, and the plans of 1843 include a Victoria Dock on the site.[2] Although, when acquired by the Liverpool Corporation, the site may have been renamed to avoid confusion with Victoria Dock.[2]
The dock is included in Peel Group's £4.5bn Wirral Waters redevelopment. The Baseline Study of July 2008 has been endorsed by Wirral Borough Council.[9] In February 2009 the initial stage of the planning application for the first major mixed-use development masterplan/quarter was submitted.[10] The development would be expected to take up to 30 years.