Late September morning in Gloucester Docks.
The outline of the first of the canal’s lift bridges
can just be seen on the right.
Sun is out, time to go!
The first mile or so of canal is industrial then, it is enveloped
by woodland with the occasional farm house until Purton
where the landscape changes dramatically.
Many canals had a distinct house style for the lock keepers
cottages, not to be out done, the lockless G&SC produced
these beautiful miniature doric porticoed bridge keepers cottages.
We were just passing under Sellars bridge when the two bridge men ran out and started madly winding the bridge opening gear.
I looked back and found this sailing barge right on my tail.
I was as surprised as the bridge men.
The reason for the swing bridges being that headroom was
and still is unlimited,
when opened in 1826 the G&SC was the largest canal in the UK.
The Stroudwater Canal
At Saul Junction the G&SC formed a cross roads with
the stub end of the Stroudwater Canal which ran
from the Severn at Framilode up to the Stroud Valley and its mills.
This section is immediately adjacent to the swing
bridge & access is controlled by the bridge traffic lights.
The bridge in the background is to be
replaced by a swing bridge.
At Purton a somewhat melancholy graveyard exists.
Known as the “Purton Hulks” a series of old barges,
coasters,and fishing boats were deliberately beached
on the bank between the canal and the R. Severn to
stop the canal banks being eroded by the fast river tides.
These two barges are of Ferro Concrete, many were built
during WWII due to the shortage of steel and timber.
Others are of steel or wood but all are in a state of
advanced decay, some barely visible.
The site of each boat is marked by a small plaque
giving details of the craft.
A little further along the embankment we come to all that remains
of a gigantic railway swing bridge which spanned both
the canal and part of the R Severn.
This model depicts the swing span of the bridge which
was built to bring coal from the Forest of Dean to Sharpness docks.
The bridge was then demolised.
From Purton to the old Sharpness entrance the canal
runs above and adjacent to the river, giving magnificent
views of the river and the Mendips beyond.
The entrance to the modern Port of Sharpness. We felt it
would be unwise to venture further so moored up for the night.
The arm to the old entrance is off to the right and
now acts as a linear marina.
The arm has a very limited turning area at the end
so it is best to enjoy the views by walking to the old
lock along the dock wall.
The original Dock Masters House now a lifeboat station
and RYA sailing school.
The view downstream from the old lock.
The entrance to Lydney Canal is over the sand to the right
with the two Severn Bridges in the distance.