The Canal & River Trust is celebrating the 150th anniversary of Sharpness Docks with a special weekend of events on Saturday and Sunday, 13-14 July.
Commemorating a major milestone for one of the most inland ports in the country, the event will showcase the important role Sharpness has played in bringing trade into the south-west since the late 19th century.
Max Ward, community & youth events coordinator at Canal & River Trust, explains: “We are commemorating this occasion by inviting people down to the port to learn more about this momentous piece of engineering. We want people to come and discover more about the role the docks have had and find out about people’s stories and experiences.
“Constructed by Victorian Britain, Sharpness was an important port for bringing cargo into the south-west. With railway lines on both sides connected to the Midland Railway mainline, this allowed imports to be distributed without having to first go up the canal to Gloucester. Coal meanwhile travelled from the Forest of Dean to be exported out of the docks and as fuel for steamers.
“The Canal & River Trust is the port authority for the dock and to the current day continue to welcome ships from across Europe working with our partners at the docks, bringing in goods such as cement and grain.”
Visitors will be able to climb aboard the 1936 trip boat Queen Boadicea II for a journey up the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal. The 30-minute trip is £10 for adults and £5 for under-16s and features a local expert talking about the history of Sharpness. Space is limited so book online in advance.
There are free guided walks discussing the history of the docks. A wildlife expert will talk about the amazing waterway wildlife that calls the canal and neighbouring Severn Estuary home and tell the story of the Severn Railway Bridge disaster in 1960.
An exhibition at the Dockers Club will feature photos and artefacts telling the history of the docks, while the Severn Area Rescue Association, Vale of Berkeley Railway, Sharpness Docks Ltd and the Trust’s Explorers education team will also be at the event.
The open event will take place from 10am to 4pm each day. To discover more and to book on the boat trips visit the Canal & River Trust website and search for ‘Sharpness 150’.
As part of the celebrations, people are being invited to send in their stories about the docks to max.ward@canalrivertrust.org.uk or to use the hashtag #Sharpness150 on Twitter or Instagram.
