In mid July I travelled from Birmingham by train to Gloucester to photograph the Gloucester Docks.

These have been revitalised, like the Liverpool Albert Dock area, retaining as many of the buildings as possible, originating from the hay days of the docks begining in 1827 and dying in the late 1960’s.

The docks are at the Northern end of the Gloucester and Sharpness canal which was constructed to bypass the precarious navigation of the River Severn. It allowed imports of goods from the world to be transported from the wider Severn at Sharpness, then transfered into narroww barges. These then passed throught the Gloucester Dock and were able to travel North through the narrow canal network to feed the prospering industries of the Midlands.

Gradualy ships became larger and goods were transferred to smaller vessels at either Saul Junction or Sharpness and transported continuously to the Midlands reducing the need for docks and warehouses at Gloucester. For more info click.

On the day of my visit the weather followed the usual patern for Summer 2011 by begining very sunny with bliue sky – then clouding over rapidly around mid-day – then getting sunnier again mid-afternoon. As I arrived at Victoria Basin the sun was glorious but within 10 minutes the gloom arrived. Later things got better.

To see my photos click on the slideshow.

Below is a Google Earth map of the area which you can navigate in all sorts of ways – try clicking on the controls at the top left or click dragging in the map – click for more detailed info. Click on Placemarks below for name of the location.

View Gloucester Docks Saturday 1 in a larger map