Bristol Dock Act 1776
| Jurisdiction | UK Non-devolved |
| Citation | 1776 c. 33 |
| Year | 1776 |
(16 Geo. 3) C A P. XXXIII.
'WH E R E A S the Port ofBristol is a Place of great Trade and Commerce, and the Ships and Vessels lying at the Quays thereof are by the Efflux of the Tide left dry twice in every twenty-four Hours, whereby they frequently receive Damage: And whereas great Quantities of Timber, Deals, Staves, Tar, Pitch, Rosin, and Turpentine, have for many Years part been imported into the said Port, particularly in the Summer Months, during which Time it has frequently happened that there has not been Room within a convenient Distance from the said Quays for storing the same, by reason whereof, and of the Expence of removing the same, which on Articles so cumbrous and of such low Value amounts to a great Charge, the Quays have been often through Necessity greatly incumbered, and the Danger of Fire to the Ships in the Port much dreaded: And whereas the Master, Wardens, and Commonalty, of the Society of Merchant Venturers of the said City of Bristol, have from Time to Time expended very large Sums of Money for the Benefit of the Navigation and Trade of the said Port, and with a View to provide a Remedy for the afore-mentioned Inconveniencies, have purchased certain Docks and Yards in the Parish of Clifton, in the County of Gloucester, adjoining to the River Avon within the said Port, and have, at a very considerable Expence, rendered one of the said Docks, now called The Floating-dock, capable of receiving and floating the largest Ships using the said Port: And whereas the Danger of Fire to the Ships in the said Port and to the City of Bristol would be greatly lessened, and it would be more beneficial to all Persons using the Trade of the said Port, if the said Floating-dock was enlarged on the North-western Side thereof, and rendered capable of containing a greater Number of Ships than at present, and if a convenient Quay, with proper Storehouses, Warehouses, Sheds, and Yards, were built, erected, made, and laid out, for landing, storing, and laying up, the afore-mentioned Articles of Trade: And whereas the said Society are willing to enlarge the said Floating-dock, and to build such Quay as aforesaid, and to erect and make the several other Works before mentioned; but cannot effect the same, and completely remedy the Inconveniencies afore-recited, without the Aid of Parliament;' may it therefore please your Majesty that it may be enacted; and be it enacted by the King's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the Authority of the same, That it shall and may be lawful for the said Master, Wardens, and Commonalty, of the Society of Merchant Venturers of the said City ofBristol, and they are hereby authorised and impowered to enlarge the said Dock called The Floating-dock, on the North-western Side thereof, in such Manner as they shall think proper; and likewise to build and make a convenient Quay on such North-western Side, with proper Storehouses, Warehouses, Sheds, Yards, and Places, for landing, storing, and laying up the said Goods.
II Ground allotted for a new Quay.
II. And be it further enacted, That all the Land and Ground situate on the North-western Side of, and adjoining to, the said Floating-dock, and extending in Breadth on or towards the North-west from the Quay-wall of the said Floating-dock (whether in its present State, or as the same shall be enlarged) two hundred Feet, and extending of the same Breadth from the Water ofAvon to the North-east End of the said Dock (whether in its present State, or as the same shall be hereafter enlarged), shall be, and the same is hereby declared to be, a Quay for the landing all Sorts and Kinds of Timber (including Mahogany), Planks and Boards, Deals and Staves, Tar, Pitch, Rosin, and Turpentine, in whatever Quantities the same shall from Time to Time be imported into the said Port of Bristol in any Ship or Vessel whatsoever: Provided the Owners of such Goods do first pass a regular Entry thereof, and pay the Customand other Duties, and before they unship any of the Goods give Notice of the Day and Hour of Landing, in Writing, to the principal Officers of the Customs at he said Port ofBristol for the Time being, that they may direct the proper Officers to attend accordingly; and provided that none of the Goods be unshipped but in the Presence of a Waiter or Officer so appointed thereunto, otherwise the said Goods to be liable to Forfeiture according to Law.
III Timber, Planks, &c. not to be landed on the present Quays, after June 24, 1777;
III. And be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That, from and after the twenty-fourth Day ofJune one thousand seven hundred and seventy-seven, it shall not be lawful for any Person or Persons whomsoever to land any Timber, Planks, or Boards of any Sort or Kind, Deals, Staves, Tar, Pitch, Turpentine, Rosin, or other the Commodities aforesaid, on any Part of the present Quays within the said City of Bristol, from or out of any Ship or Vessel coming into the said Port of Bristol (except in the Cases herein after mentioned), Two Third Parts of the Cargo whereof shall consist of all or any of the said Articles, or from or out of any Lighter, Boat, or other Vessel, bringing the same from any such ship or Vessel, upon Pain of forfeiting, for every such Offence, the Sum of fifty Pounds; and the Masteror Owner, or other Person having the Command, Charge, or Care, of any Ship or Vessel coming into the said Port ofBristol after the said twenty-fourth Day of June, which shall be in the Year one thousand seven hundred and seventy-seven, Two Third Parts of the Cargo whereof shall consist of all, any, or either of the said Articles (the Proportion of such Cargo to be ascertained by the Tonnage of the whole Cargo), shall cause the said Ship or Vessel to be unladen of all such Articles at the said new-intended Quay, upon Pain of forfeiting fifty Pounds for each Offence.
IV This Act not to extend to Timber brought coastwise;
IV. Provided always, That nothing herein contained shall extend, or be construed to extend, to Timber, Planks, or Boards, brought coastwise into the said Port; but that the same shall and may be landed on that Part of the present Quay (commonly calledThe Back of Bristol ) in the same Manner as such Timber hath been usually landed there.
V nor to prevent landing at private Wharfs, &c.
V. Provided also, That nothing herein contained shall extend, or be construed to extend, to prevent any Owner or Master of any Ship or Vessel, or the Owner or Owners of any Timber, Planks, or Boards, Deals, Staves, Tar, Pitch, Rosin, or Turpentine, or any of the Commodities herein before recited, or his or their Agent, Factor, or Consignee, from landing or unlading the same, or any Part thereof, at any private Quay or Wharf within the said Port, where the same may now, or at any Time hereafter (by Consent of the proper Officer of his Majesty's Customs within the said Port), be landed or unloaded, nor to prevent any such Person or Persons from landing or unlading any of the said Articles at the present Quay within the said City ofBristol, such Person producing a Certificate, under the Hands of any two of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace for the said City and County of the City of Bristol, to the proper Officer of his Majesty's Customs within the said Port of Bristol (such Certificate to be grounded on the Oath of the Party applying for the same), that, at the Arrival of such Ship or Vessel, a Birth or Place could not be had fit for such Ship or Vessel to lie in for landing and unlading such Articles as aforesaid upon the said new-intended Quay; any Thing in this Act to the contrary hereof notwithstanding.
VI Duties now payable on the Importation of certain Articles, &c. to continue so on being landed at the new Quay.
VI. And be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That the Duties which are now due and payable for Wharfage, Tonnage, Tonnage, Plankage, and the Duties commonly calledThe Town Duties , and all other Duties and Customs whatsoever now payable in the said Port of Bristol on the Arrival of any Ship or Vessel at the Quay or Back of Bristol , or on the Importation of Timber (including Mahogany), Planks, or Boards, Deals, Staves, Tar, Pitch, Rosin, and Turpentine, or any of the Commodities aforesaid, shall still continue due and payable, and shall be paid to the several Persons who now are, or hereafter shall be, intitled to the same, for all Ships and Vessels which shall arrive at the said intended Quay, and for all Timber (including Mahogany), Planks, and Boards, Deals, Staves, Tar, Pitch, Rosin, and Turpentine, and all other the Commodities aforesaid which shall be landed on the said new-intended Quay in the said Parish of Clifton, in like Manner as if the said Ships or Vessels had arrived at the Quay or Back of Bristol , or as if the said Goods had been landed on either of the present Quays, within the said City of Bristol ; and also that the Rates which are now due and payable, or which shall be hereafter settled, for lading or unlading such Goods or Merchandise on the present Quays within the said...
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