The Ropewalks is a series of long, straight streets which originally housed the ropeyards used to make the miles and miles of rope needed by each sailing ship. They sprung up near the Old Dock which opened in 1715 and in the C18, merchants established their homes, offices and warehouses as near as possible to the dock. With the advent of C19 and the growth of crowded, insanitary condition in the city centre, the merchants moved their houses away from this area and light-industry, medical and arts institutions and newsrooms moved in. Today the area is known for its lively nightlife but the area is still full of historic warehouses, factories and institutions and forms part of not just the Duke St Conservation Area but also Liverpool's World Heritage site. It contain 102 listed buildings and is a fascinating area to explore.