Bristol Cranes Tea Towel

Dockside Cranes Bristol no 4. in a series

Built in 1951 by Stothert & Pitt of Bath the four electric cranes on Bristol’s dockside are the last survivors of around 40 cranes that used to operate on Bristol City’s docks in the 1950s.

Crane 32 can carry up to ten tons while the others can carry up to three. They could travel along rails to align themselves with the ships but were designed to work very close together so that three or four could work on the same ship at the same time.

The men in charge of driving the cranes were known as 'tin gods'- adept at lifting, turning and luffing (moving the jib in and out) at the same time at high speeds. These crane drivers were said to rule the docks as well as being trusted with the safety of the men below them in the hold of the ship, where gangs of six dockers would work to bring the cargo to the slings that the crane had delivered.

In 1975 all the cranes were sold off for scrap but these four were rescued at the last minute and are now permanent fixtures on the Bristol skyline.

100% Cotton Tea Towel
Designed, printed and made in the UK.
No overseas sweatships or other nasty things were used in the production of this tea towel.