More information : A group of abandoned barges in a line 400 metres long between SO 6829 0401 and SO 6867 0441 on the shore of the River Severn to the west of Dauncey's Farm. The remains of 36 barges are visble on aerial photographs, mostly of wooden construction but some of concrete. The vessels are described in detail in the Gloucestershire SMR record 9525.(1-3)
The hulk of the vessel HARRIETT is Scheduled. For the designation record of this site please see The National Heritage List for England (4-5)
A landslip of the river bank and overlying hedge south of Purton in 1909 left the Gloucester to Sharpness Canal in danger of breach. The temporary solution devised by Chief Engineer of the canal company, A.J. Cullis, was to beach vessels to help reinforce the existing river bank and initiate new bank development. This continued periodocaly until the 1970s, many different types of vessel were beached, including Schooners, Severn Trows, Lighters, and Barges (wooden and ferro concrete barges). The Purton hulks are the largest group of vessels used for the purpose of reinforcement in England. Timber vessels were usually broken up to recover materials, this is a large group of intact vessels, making them a valuable historical resource. (6)
Aerial Photographic survey conducted 2010. Progression study to map number and visiblity over time. This study identified in total from Sharpness to Purton 78 vessels. 36 of which are clustered together in the Purton area. Additionally there are 8 Hopper barges which were not recorded by Barnett 2004 (Survey sketch plan provided by L.P Barnett). (7)
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