'S/V Irene' approaching Parkend swing bridge

Every few years Gloucester City organises a festival of Tall Ships in the docks at the centre of the city, only a few hundred yards from the wonderful 12th century cathedral. The docks were originally built to service the industrial hinterland and provide a transshipment point for goods to transfer to both the inland waterway network and the national rail network. Traditionally the River Severn allowed boat traffic to join the waterway network to the sea at the mouth of the River Severn, but the enormous and dangerous tidal range of the Severn estuary limited the use of boats. So a 16 mile ship canal was completed in 1827 linking the specially protected inland dock beside the still tidal River Severn at Gloucester as far south as Sharpness, on the Severn estuary, where a huge tidal dock was built allowing ships of up to 600 tons to travel inland.

Sadly the Gloucester docks are rather quiet these days with little freight traffic remaining. Mostly the canal is used for leisure boats. The Tall Ship Festival is a way of bringing the docks alive again and reminding everyone of the heritage of its sea-going links. 

I wanted to see some of the vessels which are spending about five days in the docks. To get there they have come from several countries of Europe, and must travel to arrive promptly at the Sharpness Docks close to the high tide, which this year happened quite late in the evening, and then again twelve hours next morning. After docking the boats must travel up the canal which takes about four hours.

I tracked the Tall Ship’s movements at sea and did manage to watch several of them journeying inland. This morning ’S/V Irene’ (ie Sailing Vessel Irene) was powered by its diesel engine. Traditionally horses and mules were used to pull the boats. Here the vessel is approaching Parkend swing bridge, which is one of many allowing a single track crossing of the canal for local people to reach the eastern bank of the river Severn. The bridges are all manned by canal workers who will open the bridges during the day.

This Wiki page provides a map of the route and a brief history of the canal as well as a few photos showing various parts of its route


I've added an 'Extra' showing the 'S/V Spirit of Falmouth' and a close up of some of its crew. The skipper, in black leaning on the life belt, shouted out to me thanking make for coming to watch them! You might notice a parrot on the should er of a woman on the far side of the boat. I think it is a toy!