Way back in the early 1700s, the city council had a bright idea to knock down the river-facing walls and use the remains to make the quays wider and more commerce-friendly. This move paid off as more merchants moved in and Waterford became a major player in the bacon game. Trade in butter and corn was also a big deal and huge stores were built along the quays.
The area around the quays became a hub for markets selling everything from hay and straw to potatoes, fresh fish, and veggies.
By the end of the 1700s, trade with Newfoundland (part of modern-day Canada) was on the rise. Every year, nearly 70 boats made the trip and around 5,000 people from Waterford and nearby areas joined them.
This trade was a major job creator in the city. With no cars or trucks back then, goods were offloaded, uploaded, and transported by hand along the quays, so plenty of workers were needed.
![[Reginald's Tower, Poole's Stores and The Quay, Waterford]. 1901.](https://waterford.fyi/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Reginalds-Tower-Colorized-1024x840.jpg)
Waterford was also a major player in shipbuilding between 1820 and 1882, with White’s Shipyard and Malcomson’s Ironworks Shipyard being the big names in the biz.
No reviews available.
