At the time it was the broadest and deepest canal in the world.
A section of the port side hull of the two masted schooner “Dispatch” at Purton.
Photo credit:R~P~M/Flickr
The canal runs for much of its length close to the River Severn.
Inevitably, in 1909, the bank collapsed near Purton.
Numerous ships were towed from Sharpness Dock and deliberately ran against the banks.
This process of reinforcement continued for over sixty years, during which around eighty ships were intentionally beached here.
The most recent set of vessels to be grounded here included about a dozenconcrete shipsbuilt during World War 2.
She was later sunk in 2012.
The remains of the Severn Collier.
Photo credit:Nick/Flickr
A ferro concrete barge at Purton.
Photo credit:Nick/Flickr
The wooden dock lighter “Huntley” seen from the bow at Purton.
In the background is the remains of the schooner “Dispatch”.
Photo credit:R~P~M/Flickr
The remains of a barge, FCB 75, at Purton.
Photo credit:Alison Thompson/Flickr
Photo credit:R~P~M/Flickr
The Harriett.
