The OS Map published in 1880 showing the graving dock entrance at the western end and coal tip locations. Three quarries and a limekiln are marked together with the Inspectors and Tipping Offices at the southern side of the dock. [010]

The curvature of the dock was a deliberate design feature and had a three-fold advantage. Firstly, it fitted the lay of the land, being sandwiched between the escarpment and the river Ely and reduced the quantity of rock and soil to excavate. The design of the dock is attributed exclusively in many documents to John Hawkshaw alone.

Secondly, it permitted more railways to be progressively added toward the western end of the dock where they were required i.e. two railways per coal tip.

Thirdly, the curvature meant that the coal tips weren't in line with each other so the bow of one ship could be placed behind the stern of the ship at the adjacent tip etc. The design was satisfactory in the 1860's but as the century advanced, the length and breath of ships gradually increased beyond the clearance the curvature of the dock permitted. The ships also became equipped with multiple hatches and when steam arrived, access to load bunker fuel at another location adjacent to the boiler room of the ship was also a requirement. Space soon became a problem using the static coal tips and new more flexible facilities were required by the turn of the 20th century.