The Grimsby Dock Tower was built as part of the new docks built to enlarge and improve the Haven and the booming port of Grimsby and was completed on 27 March 1852.

The Grade I listed, 300 ft building, which still dominates the view, was designed by James William Wild and follows the style of the Palazzo Pubblico in Siena, Italy. The iconic landmark stands tall and proud at the entrance to the docks. Its intricately designed exterior conceals a gigantic water tank within its walls.

Capable of holding 33,000 gallons of water, it was effortlessly filled by two 25 hp engines which could lift the water 200 feet above the level of the docks. Once there, the pressure of this enormous tank of water had the power to open and close the lock gates with ease. It took one million bricks to build the Dock Tower, all of them, except for the millionth brick, which was made of glass, were made from the clay that was dug out of the dock basin during its construction.