Gloucester docks were in great danger of becoming redundant in the late 18th century as a silting Severn made it increasingly difficult for larger ships to reach Gloucester.
So a ship canal was built from the Severn estuary at Sharpness. This was no namby-pamby narrow canal.......this was a ship canal and the deepest and widest in the world at the time of it's opening in 1827....... an amazing piece of engineering.
Sharpness is still a viable port with ships from many parts of the world. Gloucester and Sharpness canal is still busy, now almost exclusively used by pleasure boats. Many of users are the brave pleasure boat skippers that exit via the docks into the Severn Estuary and onto the Bristol channel and coastal destinations beyond.
Most of the vessels that brave the Severn - channel are well equipped with radar and navigation aids and powerful engines that would put a cold-war Soviet surveillance ship to shame. Some of the bravest of the brave are narrowboat skippers who accept the challenge with only a single small engine but have have to employ a professional pilot to help them navigate the tidal journey to Avonmouth where they can return onto the canal system eventually joining the Kennet and Avon canal via Bristol. With the channel and Severn estuary being the second largest tidal range in the world, it is really no place for the amateur with no knowledge of the amazingly strong tides and dangerous sandbanks...... so the company of a professional pilot is a must. I actually met one of the Severn pilots who was on a narrowboat holiday with his family recently ( talk about a busman's holiday ) and he explained that apart from employing a pilot it was now mandatory that the fuel in the narrowboat had been 'polished' (cleaned) of any water/sediment content and that the engine had recently undergone a full service especially fuel filters. A 'dead' engine on the Severn Estuary due to water contamination in the diesel fuel could lead to very serious consequences.
For boat crews life is easy on the Gloucester and Sharpness canal. There are no locks
( apart from the locks in Sharpness docks) and the numerous swing bridges are all manned everyday with a traffic light system to inform crews.
Red.......... this is a no brainer STOP!!!!!!
Flashing Red................I am aware of you, wait until green to proceed.
Green................ Bridge is open and you have permission to proceed.
It is important not to proceed until green, even if the bridge is open. If the lights are flashing red and the bridge is open the bridge keeper will be giving traffic coming in the opposite direction priority..........almost always a boat a lot bigger than you !!!!
One bridge that is no longer with us is the swing bridge that was the start of the vast railway bridge made of steel spans supported by stone columns that crossed the Estuary and the Sharpness canal. One dark foggy night in late 1960 as a strong tide entered the estuary two petrol tankers attempted to access Sharpness dock. In limited visibility 'Arkendale H' and 'Wastdale H' touched against each other making the fight against the strong current difficult as they were swept together passed Sharpness dock on a voyage from Avonmouth. Engines at full power could not stop them resisting the tide as they were swept into the 17th bridge span that carried both gas pipes and electricity cables.
A terrific explosion followed seriously damaging both ships as burning petrol spread two miles across the estuary. Five crew members out of a total eight lost their lives in this tragic accident. Damage to the bridge made it uneconomical to repair and it was dismantled apart for the massive stone structure that was the base of the swing bridge on the canal.
Steel girders of the bridge still live on ......in Chile.........where they were sold to build a viaduct.
Part of the estuary comes very close to the canal at flood tides near Purton threatening a breach. In total some 81 old vessels have been beached during the 1940-60s and filled with silt to protect this section. They are now the largest ship graveyard on mainland Britain and living evidence of these old working boats that would otherwise have been lost forever. Fortunately each has been recorded and small plaques giving a basic history of their career ( builder etc) including people connected with them.
Anybody with the slightest imagination will think of all the crew members that handled these boats over the years .....some being built in the late 19th century.
One of the rarest and unique types of craft to ever use the Gloucester and Sharpness canal were the submarines H33 and H49 who travelled into Gloucester dock in 1937.
It would be quite a surprise to round a bend on a canal and see a Submarine heading for you !!!!!!
Temperatures have reached 33-35C to-day ( Monday 22nd July) and I took the opportunity to take a few photographs of people taking advantage of the sunshine............
One of the places that really is worth a visit on the Gloucester and Sharpness canal is the Wildfowl Trust at Slimbridge about a 15 minute walk from Patch Swingbridge.
Plenty of shelters to hide from the sun or rain as you watch all kinds of Wildfowl including four types of Flamingo and my favourite - a family of imported North American Otters. A great place to get away from the confines of the boat for a while.
Follow our journey/post on the River Avon (26th July 2013)...........
So a ship canal was built from the Severn estuary at Sharpness. This was no namby-pamby narrow canal.......this was a ship canal and the deepest and widest in the world at the time of it's opening in 1827....... an amazing piece of engineering.
 |
| Waiting for the bridge to open before leaving Gloucester docks and joining the Sharpness and Gloucester canal....... |
 |
| Passing the 'Sula' lightship |
Sharpness is still a viable port with ships from many parts of the world. Gloucester and Sharpness canal is still busy, now almost exclusively used by pleasure boats. Many of users are the brave pleasure boat skippers that exit via the docks into the Severn Estuary and onto the Bristol channel and coastal destinations beyond.
Most of the vessels that brave the Severn - channel are well equipped with radar and navigation aids and powerful engines that would put a cold-war Soviet surveillance ship to shame. Some of the bravest of the brave are narrowboat skippers who accept the challenge with only a single small engine but have have to employ a professional pilot to help them navigate the tidal journey to Avonmouth where they can return onto the canal system eventually joining the Kennet and Avon canal via Bristol. With the channel and Severn estuary being the second largest tidal range in the world, it is really no place for the amateur with no knowledge of the amazingly strong tides and dangerous sandbanks...... so the company of a professional pilot is a must. I actually met one of the Severn pilots who was on a narrowboat holiday with his family recently ( talk about a busman's holiday ) and he explained that apart from employing a pilot it was now mandatory that the fuel in the narrowboat had been 'polished' (cleaned) of any water/sediment content and that the engine had recently undergone a full service especially fuel filters. A 'dead' engine on the Severn Estuary due to water contamination in the diesel fuel could lead to very serious consequences.
For boat crews life is easy on the Gloucester and Sharpness canal. There are no locks
( apart from the locks in Sharpness docks) and the numerous swing bridges are all manned everyday with a traffic light system to inform crews.
Red.......... this is a no brainer STOP!!!!!!
Flashing Red................I am aware of you, wait until green to proceed.
Green................ Bridge is open and you have permission to proceed.
It is important not to proceed until green, even if the bridge is open. If the lights are flashing red and the bridge is open the bridge keeper will be giving traffic coming in the opposite direction priority..........almost always a boat a lot bigger than you !!!!
 | |
| Part of the old dock arm at Sharpness against a background of the evening sun as the tide flows into the Severn Estuary. |
A terrific explosion followed seriously damaging both ships as burning petrol spread two miles across the estuary. Five crew members out of a total eight lost their lives in this tragic accident. Damage to the bridge made it uneconomical to repair and it was dismantled apart for the massive stone structure that was the base of the swing bridge on the canal.
Steel girders of the bridge still live on ......in Chile.........where they were sold to build a viaduct.
 |
| All that remains of the giant swing bridge supports after the railway bridge was dismantled following the tragic 1960 petrol tanker disaster. |
Anybody with the slightest imagination will think of all the crew members that handled these boats over the years .....some being built in the late 19th century.
 |
| A ship made of concrete !!!...........now keeps the estuary at bay near Purton |
 |
| FCB 75 ( built of Ferro-concrete) |
 |
| Boat winding gear in the Purton boat graveyard. |
One of the rarest and unique types of craft to ever use the Gloucester and Sharpness canal were the submarines H33 and H49 who travelled into Gloucester dock in 1937.
It would be quite a surprise to round a bend on a canal and see a Submarine heading for you !!!!!!
Temperatures have reached 33-35C to-day ( Monday 22nd July) and I took the opportunity to take a few photographs of people taking advantage of the sunshine............
 |
| Taking advantage of the sunshine to clean the boat roof........ Sharpness and Gloucester canal |
 |
| Weather to just sit and watch............ |
One of the places that really is worth a visit on the Gloucester and Sharpness canal is the Wildfowl Trust at Slimbridge about a 15 minute walk from Patch Swingbridge.
Plenty of shelters to hide from the sun or rain as you watch all kinds of Wildfowl including four types of Flamingo and my favourite - a family of imported North American Otters. A great place to get away from the confines of the boat for a while.
 |
| North American Otter at the Wildfowl trust, Slimbridge |
 |
| Wildfowl Trust Flamingo, Slimbridge. |
 |
| "you lookin' at me?".......Wildfowl Trust resident, Slimbridge. |
Follow our journey/post on the River Avon (26th July 2013)...........
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