07. The Purton Hulks
4th May 2005

For many years redundant commercial river craft have been beached along the banks of the Severn between Sharpness and Purton in order to protect the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal against erosion. The boats involved range from wooden schooners, trows and barges to wartime concrete lighters and, at the Sharpness end, some more modern steel vessels. In excess of 80 boats are known to have been beached here and the site represents the largest boat graveyard in mainland Britian.
This unique site is constantly under threat from vandals and souvenir hunters. Name panels from the vessels made attractive ornaments and from the 1940s many of them started to disappear. In 1986 no less than eight vessels were destroyed and several others were damaged by a mindless arson attack. Up until the 1990s British Waterways were still burying vessels in spoil and rubble at the northern end of the site. Recently graffiti has appeared on one vessel and every year timber is removed for barbecues and hand made iron nails are stolen as ornaments. The Friends of Purton have been formed as an organisation to protect and raise awareness of the site. English Heritage are actively being lobbied to provide some measure of designation/protection for the site and a series of plaques and interpretation boards are being provided as funding/sponsorship allows. Please feel free to attend a guided tour of the site and find out about the Friends of Purton - details on the front page.
Marine historian Paul Barnett has spent many years studying the site and has identified the vast majority of the vessels and researched their histories. I would like to thank Paul for his generosity in sharing the information that is presented here.

**UPDATE 25/11/09**

The Friends of Purton are pleased to announce that they have now catalogued their 2007 acquisition of the Graham Farr photographic collection. Started c.1930s the collection consists of several thousand black and white images of local schooners, trows, lighters, coasters, paddle steamers and much, much more.

Thanks are duly made to the late Robin Craig's widow Yvonne, Michael Farr and Llanelli Photographer Derek Newton Goverd for their generosity, foresight and continued support.

Further details regarding individual images and database searches are available upon request to the Friends of Purton, 22 Gurney Avenue, Tuffley, GL4 0YL or barnadillo@aol.com.

www.friendsofpurton.org.uk


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The stern post is all that remains of the ORBY, a former schooner, originally known as the ISLAND MAID that was cut down for use as a barge in 1908. 20th July 2008.
The stern post is all that remains of the ORBY, a former schooner, originally known as the ISLAND MAID that was cut down for use as a barge in 1908. 20th July 2008.
 Larkham's vessel BOXER and the barge ENDEAVOUR engaged in raising sunken river lighter PAINSWICK from the bed of the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal at Sharpness. 1999.
Larkham's vessel BOXER and the barge ENDEAVOUR engaged in raising sunken river lighter PAINSWICK from the bed of the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal at Sharpness. 1999.New
 The remains of the wrecking barge PETRUS. There isn't a great deal left, but the stem post can be seen above the thistle on the left whilst the rudder post and a couple of stern frames can be seen towards the right. The FCB75 is prominent in the background. 20th July 2008.
The remains of the wrecking barge PETRUS. There isn't a great deal left, but the stem post can be seen above the thistle on the left whilst the rudder post and a couple of stern frames can be seen towards the right. The FCB75 is prominent in the background. 20th July 2008.
 The remains of the stern and rudder of the PETRUS. She was beached in 1931 after straining her timbers whilst removing a steam lorry from the canal at Hempsted. 20th July 2008.
The remains of the stern and rudder of the PETRUS. She was beached in 1931 after straining her timbers whilst removing a steam lorry from the canal at Hempsted. 20th July 2008.
Some timber stern frames of the PETRUS. 20th July 2008.
Some timber stern frames of the PETRUS. 20th July 2008.
 The site of the Stroudwater barge PRIORY, now completely buried. 27th October 2009.
The site of the Stroudwater barge PRIORY, now completely buried. 27th October 2009.
 The bow of the Stroudwater barge ROCKBY with the stern of the SEVERN COLLIER visible behind. 17th June 2007.
The bow of the Stroudwater barge ROCKBY with the stern of the SEVERN COLLIER visible behind. 17th June 2007.
 The bow of the ROCKBY. 20th July 2008.
The bow of the ROCKBY. 20th July 2008.
The scant remains of the Bridgewater Trow SELINA JANE. 27th October 2009.
The scant remains of the Bridgewater Trow SELINA JANE. 27th October 2009.New
 Iron knees and part of the starboard hull of the SELINA JANE. 27th October 2009.
Iron knees and part of the starboard hull of the SELINA JANE. 27th October 2009.New
 The remains of the wooden barge SEVERN COLLIER. She was built at Stourport in 1937 and worked for Cadburys. 16th April 1991.
The remains of the wooden barge SEVERN COLLIER. She was built at Stourport in 1937 and worked for Cadburys. 16th April 1991.
 The stern of SEVERN COLLIER seen in 1998. The remains of the cabin and the vessel's name can both be seen. Her unusual angle is because she lies partly on top of the wreck of the ROCKBY.
The stern of SEVERN COLLIER seen in 1998. The remains of the cabin and the vessel's name can both be seen. Her unusual angle is because she lies partly on top of the wreck of the ROCKBY.
Eleven more years of weather, flood and human damage have taken their toll on SEVERN COLLIER. 27th October 2009.
Eleven more years of weather, flood and human damage have taken their toll on SEVERN COLLIER. 27th October 2009.
 SEVERN COLLIER seen from the stern sixteen years after the first photo was taken. She is gradually being buried in the mud as the bank builds up. 27th October 2009.
SEVERN COLLIER seen from the stern sixteen years after the first photo was taken. She is gradually being buried in the mud as the bank builds up. 27th October 2009.
 Detail of part of the SEVERN COLLIER name on the transom. 27th October 2009.
Detail of part of the SEVERN COLLIER name on the transom. 27th October 2009.
 Tiller detail on the SEVERN COLLIER. 17th June 2007.
Tiller detail on the SEVERN COLLIER. 17th June 2007.
The interior of the cabin on the SEVERN COLLIER. 17th June 2007.
The interior of the cabin on the SEVERN COLLIER. 17th June 2007.
 Missing hull planks on the starboard side of SEVERN COLLIER. 27th October 2009.
Missing hull planks on the starboard side of SEVERN COLLIER. 27th October 2009.
 Bow view of the SEVERN COLLIER. 17th June 2007.
Bow view of the SEVERN COLLIER. 17th June 2007.
 The severed main beam of the SEVERN COLLIER. The central section was sawn off by a souvenir hunter as it carried the vessel's carved number. 20th July 2008.
The severed main beam of the SEVERN COLLIER. The central section was sawn off by a souvenir hunter as it carried the vessel's carved number. 20th July 2008.
The SEVERN CONVEYOR of 1930 beached at Sharpness. Built for the Bristol Oil Storage Co, it later passed to the Severn & Canal Carrying Co.
The SEVERN CONVEYOR of 1930 beached at Sharpness. Built for the Bristol Oil Storage Co, it later passed to the Severn & Canal Carrying Co.
 The SEVERN CONVEYOR some fifteen years later on 27th October 2009.
The SEVERN CONVEYOR some fifteen years later on 27th October 2009.
 Companionway on the SEVERN CONVEYOR.
Companionway on the SEVERN CONVEYOR.
 The name of the SEVERN CONVEYOR still just legible on the stern. This vessel can also be identified by the official number 149999 visible on main beam.
The name of the SEVERN CONVEYOR still just legible on the stern. This vessel can also be identified by the official number 149999 visible on main beam.
The name still just about visible on the stern fifteen years later. 27th October 2009.
The name still just about visible on the stern fifteen years later. 27th October 2009.
 Part of SEVERN CONVEYOR's name still painted in on the bow. 27th October 2009.
Part of SEVERN CONVEYOR's name still painted in on the bow. 27th October 2009.
 Steel
Steel "bird barge" SEVERN FALCON beached next to the former Severn Railway Bridge. This vessel was originally built for the Severn & Canal Carrying Co.
 SEVERN FALCON seen fifteen years later on 27th October 2009.
SEVERN FALCON seen fifteen years later on 27th October 2009.
SEVERN FALCON seen from the bow. 27th October 2009.
SEVERN FALCON seen from the bow. 27th October 2009.
 Part of SEVERN FALCON's name still visible on the bow. 27th October 2009.
Part of SEVERN FALCON's name still visible on the bow. 27th October 2009.
 Part of the starboard side of the SHAMROCK, a barge that was originally the schooner GUIDE OF WEYMOUTH. She was built by Holman & Kelley of Dartmouth in 1854 and was beached around 1950. 20th July 2008.
Part of the starboard side of the SHAMROCK, a barge that was originally the schooner GUIDE OF WEYMOUTH. She was built by Holman & Kelley of Dartmouth in 1854 and was beached around 1950. 20th July 2008.
 Three of SHAMROCK's frames protruding from the grass. 27th October 2009.
Three of SHAMROCK's frames protruding from the grass. 27th October 2009.
The sunken Stroudwater barge SOCIETY in the tidal basin of the old entrance to Sharpness Docks. 6th April 2006.
The sunken Stroudwater barge SOCIETY in the tidal basin of the old entrance to Sharpness Docks. 6th April 2006.
 The SOCIETY gently rotting away in the old tidal basin on 27th October 2009.
The SOCIETY gently rotting away in the old tidal basin on 27th October 2009.
 The site where the wooden lighter TIRLEY lies buried. The object on the right is a piece of driftwood and nothing to do with the vessel which is completely buried. 20th July 2008.
The site where the wooden lighter TIRLEY lies buried. The object on the right is a piece of driftwood and nothing to do with the vessel which is completely buried. 20th July 2008.
 The bows of the VOLTAIC. The vessel was given this name after being cut down for use as a barge but originally is was the Welsh registered schooner SARAH MACDONALD which was used to carry slate from Portmadoc. 17th June 2007.
The bows of the VOLTAIC. The vessel was given this name after being cut down for use as a barge but originally is was the Welsh registered schooner SARAH MACDONALD which was used to carry slate from Portmadoc. 17th June 2007.
Iron knees on the wreck of the VOLTAIC. 27th October 2009.
Iron knees on the wreck of the VOLTAIC. 27th October 2009.
 Timbers belonging to the VOLTAIC. 27th October 2009.
Timbers belonging to the VOLTAIC. 27th October 2009.
 Steelwork on the top of the stern post of an as yet unidentified wooden barge just breaks the surface of the tidal basin at the old entrance to Sharpness Docks. 27th October 2009.
Steelwork on the top of the stern post of an as yet unidentified wooden barge just breaks the surface of the tidal basin at the old entrance to Sharpness Docks. 27th October 2009.
 The stern of the unidentified barge beneath the water. 27th October 2009.
The stern of the unidentified barge beneath the water. 27th October 2009.
Gunwale and knee on the unidentified sunken barge. 27th October 2009.
Gunwale and knee on the unidentified sunken barge. 27th October 2009.
 Gunwale and main beam on the sunken barge. 27th October 2009.
Gunwale and main beam on the sunken barge. 27th October 2009.
 The bow of the unidentified sunken barge. 27th October 2009.
The bow of the unidentified sunken barge. 27th October 2009.
 Various vessels in the process of being buried by spoil on 16th April 1991. Most prominent is the FCB77 with the stern of the FCB67 behind it. The stern of the trow J&AR is visible centre right and part on the BARRY is visible on the right.
Various vessels in the process of being buried by spoil on 16th April 1991. Most prominent is the FCB77 with the stern of the FCB67 behind it. The stern of the trow J&AR is visible centre right and part on the BARRY is visible on the right.
A line up of Purton hulks looking towards Sharpness from the deck of the FCB75. The wrecks of the SEVERN COLLIER, ROCKBY, KING and NEW DISPATCH can all be seen. 17th June 2007.
A line up of Purton hulks looking towards Sharpness from the deck of the FCB75. The wrecks of the SEVERN COLLIER, ROCKBY, KING and NEW DISPATCH can all be seen. 17th June 2007.
 An overall view looking north with the wrecks of the VOLTAIC, HUNTLEY and NEW DISPATCH visible. 20th July 2008.
An overall view looking north with the wrecks of the VOLTAIC, HUNTLEY and NEW DISPATCH visible. 20th July 2008.
 
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