These photographs were taken in the 1880s and were the last known document of the canal docks that the villa stood adjacent to for so many decades. The above image is looking eastbound before the demolition works took place. The below image is looking westbound after much of the docks had been removed soon after. The "Old Quay Canal" was the local name given to what was nationally known as the Mersey and Irwell Navigation, which connected the Mersey at Runcorn to the Mersey beyond Warrington where it had been canalised and was no longer tidal. Docks at the time were also in heavy use across the water in Widnes, but the Mersey and Irwell docks were not as successful as there were no major dock improvements after 1829 and the approach channels silted up.