Western Daily Press (Saturday)
Share stories of dock’s past as site marks milestone 150 years
AHISTORIC milestone is being celebrated this weekend as 2024 marks 150 years since the opening of Sharpness New Dock next to the Severn estuary in Gloucestershire.
The original docks at the end of the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal was opened in 1827. But Victorianera ships became so large that a new dock had to be built, opening on November 25, 1874.
Organisers #Sharpness150 are hosting a launch event today at Sharpness Sports and Social Club (formerly the Dockers Club), but events will run throughout the year.
Running from noon to 5pm, there will be guest speakers and displays as well as recordings for the community to share their Sharpness stories.
The aim of #Sharpness150 is to bring the community, surrounding areas and visitors together to participate in and enjoy exploring the past, present and future of Sharpness Dock, which still operates as a successful port today through imports and exports of cargoes such as cement, fertiliser and scrap metal.
While housing developments are changing the face of the area, its history is still evident at the Vale of Berkeley Railway, where the charity has dedicated volunteers to preserve and tell the story of why the railway was key to the Sharpness we see today.
Julie Snell, who has been a trustee for two years, said: “The history of the railways, the canal and the port are all interlinked.
“Sharpness is a special place and we’re all keen to promote the history because the idea that we can celebrate the area’s heritage is a good thing. There are dockers still living in the community, and bringing people together to share their history will be key this year.”
Spending 13 years as chairman of the Stroud Vintage Transport and Engine Club, which hosts the Gloucestershire Vintage and Country Extravaganza, Martyn Slater has his own story to tell about #Sharpness150.
His father was evacuated to Sharpness during the Second World War from Plymouth and as a child Martyn knew the area as his “playground”.
It was a key place for Britain’s preparations for D-Day in 1944 as well as a port that had munitions stored nearby, and Martyn said: “It’s a no-brainer to celebrate the history here.
“We do need to have a sense of community and I do know some in Dursley who have never known about the history of the dock.
“I think it’s a wonderful place where there is all sorts of heritage on display.”
Another key voice in telling the story of Sharpness is Rob Gerrard, a railway enthusiast, volunteer and trustee at the Vale of Berkeley Railway.
“I think this year is an opportunity to celebrate our industrial past and it’s still a vibrant area,” he said.
“The dockyard railway hasn’t been used in 40 years but I think our existence here is revitalising and creating an understanding of the railways into Sharpness, which wouldn’t be here without them.”