OK then, what's this Southport thing?

[Arch]

Walking on the beach at Southport, we came across this thing.

About at tall as me (I was able to peer in at the top when on tiptoe), a hollow vertical pipe. An outlet at the bottom which had had a hatch at some stage, which would have opened outwards - whether it was a locked hatch, or held shut by gravity and water pressure we couldn't tell. That 'mesh' at the top would have formed a complete cover when new.

Letters moulded into the cast iron say "LIVERPOOL FLEETWOOD TIDAL STANDARD" and roman numerals are marked on it towards the base - on the side nearest the camera they read 20, 19, 18 going downwards, but on the other side they said 29, 28, 27, so not a straightforward scale. Inside was filled with sand to beach level, so we couldn't tell how far it went down.

If it were a depth gauge of some sort, I'd expect the numbers to be more logical, and there'd be no need for it to be a pipe, so it must be an outlet for something. Any ideas?

 

[Canrider]

The Roman numerals suggests it's to relate to a ship's draft marks (Imperial not metric, which apparently would be in Arabic numerals). 'Tidal Standard' suggests it's relevant to the tidal tables which would have been published for major ports, in this case Liverpool (or perhaps to cover the Liverpool-Fleetwood segment of coastline?).
edit: http://sources.nli.ie/Record/PS_UR_081833/Holdings#tabnav
I suppose the different numbering on opposite sides might be to indicate water depth in a channel (formerly) adjacent to the marker, so a ship passing in the channel would see a more accurate (adjusted) water depth marking relevant to its position in the channel, while the marker could be placed in the shallower water alongside the channel?

 

[Spinney]

How far apart are the numbers? A foot?
The shoreline at Southport has moved seaward, so when this was put up the lowest tide height could have been considerably below the current level (although 18 ft less seems a lot, and does not explain the numbers on the other side). Unless maybe it was placed in a channel? But as you say, if it was just a depth marker there would be no need to make it a tube

 

[green1]

Easier to drive a tube into sand.

 

[Canrider]

Easier to drive a tube into sand.

I like that suggestion. Probably more stable over time too as the sand can flow up the inside of the tube rather than squeezing a solid post up and out of the hole. Arch, I've run a quick Pastscape search for the general area of Southport but didn't find anything, maybe you could try with the exact position?

 

[Alun]

There's some more speculation here: http://www.southportgb.co.uk/showthread.php?t=50365724&page=1

 

[asterix]

My guess is sewer pipe ventilator. Sewage outlets are excellent places to find flatfish.

It'll probably reappear on ebay now.

 

[matthat]

Well i've never seen that before! I lived in Southport for 9 yrs and have walked and peddled the sea wall many a time, But I rarely go onto the beach i save that pleasure for Formby or Ainsdale beach just around the coast 15 min drive. I was going to ask for its location but have looked at above link and can visualive where it is now so will go and look next time i'm at southport. My Avatar pic was taken at Ainsdale beach!

 

[Arch]

Well i've never seen that before! I lived in Southport for 9 yrs and have walked and peddled the sea wall many a time, But I rarely go onto the beach i save that pleasure for Formby or Ainsdale beach just around the coast 15 min drive. I was going to ask for its location but have looked at above link and can visualive where it is now so will go and look next time i'm at southport. My Avatar pic was taken at Ainsdale beach!

Yes, as you look out to sea, it's to the left of the pier, before the end, and about level with the funfair on the shore. We didn't notice it at all on our way out - we walked a line more or less from the pier at the seawall out towards the oil/gas rig in the sea. We walked out to at least twice the length of the pier, and then walked more or less back at right angles to the shore aiming for the wind turbine, whereupon we noticed it to our left.

Other things we found included a skeletal patio umbrella, several shoes and a couple of beer bottles.

 

[ASC1951]

There's some more speculation here: http://www.southportgb.co.uk/showthread.php?t=50365724&page=1

There is indeed. And a letter from the Council which confirms that Asterix has it spot on.

 

[Canrider]

There is indeed. And a letter from the Council which confirms that Asterix has it spot on.

Interesting. Still doesn't answer why a sewer vent should have tidal standard and apparent draft markings on it though!

 

[classic33]

Interesting. Still doesn't answer why a sewer vent should have tidal standard and apparent draft markings on it though!

Possibly so that they could see when to release the sewage. When the tide was going out, thereby taking the sewage with it.
Marks there to indicate when it was "safe/ok" to do so!

 

[Hover Fly]

But if the water was 20 feet deep they would need a boat to be near enough to read the markings, probably easier to keep an eye on the water's edge.

 

[Arch]

By the way, those three strands of wire you can see round the shaft were holding on a large round white reflector. We puzzled over that too. If the reflector is visible, then the shaft is too, and if the shaft is hidden, the reflector is under water...Seemed like a very minimal aid to shipping...

 

[Summerking]

trip to the beach! let me get my bucket and spade..ohhhh you've already been? I must have missed the doorbell, I like a trip to the beach.