Gloucester Docks &
the Sharpness Canal

News

Another page reports current Ships for Overhaul.  News Archive

Raising Spindrift
During the bad weather at the end of February 2020, the former Royal Navy jollyboat Spindrift 3 sank at its mooring alongside the Waterways Museum. It was raised by a salvage vessel that was visiting Gloucester for another purpose. (Photo: Keith Reed)

Commercial Development at the Old Log Pond
Foden Estates have been given planning permission for a waterside development around the Old Log Pond at what was Two Mile Bend. It will include seven commercial and retail units and some landscaping.

Historic Steam Launch Returns Home
The former Dock Company directors' inspection launch Sabrina returned to the G&S Canal on 17 May and is now based at Saul Junction. Built in 1870 by local engineering company Fielding & Platt, she was used by the Company's engineer when visiting Sharpness to oversee the construction of the New Dock and by the directors for annual inspections of the canal and for pleasure trips (until 1942). (More details)

Gloucester Lock Open Again
After being closed for over three months due to leakage problems, Gloucester Lock reopened on 3 May to allow hotel boat Edward Elgar to begin one of its regular cruises. (Photo Keith Reed)

Warehouse Space for Sale
Gloucester City Council have appointed Bruton Knowles to market 75,000 sq ft across three docks warehouses: Herbert, Kimberley and Phillpotts, currently being used as the Council's headquarters. Council staff are due to move to the refurbished County Council offices. (Punchline 21 Mar 2019)

Gloucester Lock Closed
Gloucester lock was closed at the end of January because water was leaking though the bed of the lock so badly that the lock could not be fully filled. Inspection of the lock bed has been delayed because water could not be pumped out as fast as it was coming in through a leak in the upper gates as well as the leak in the bed.

Food Dock Approved
Plans have been approved for a group of small food outlets to the north of the Victoria Dock that will be designed specifically for independent regional food operators offering a variety of styles. (App Ref. 18/01260)

Development Planned for Two Mile Bend
Gloucester planners are considering a proposal for a fast food drive-thru and retail centre on the former Cemex concrete production site off the Bristol Road. (App Ref 17/01428)

Busy Victorian Market
Large crowds visited the Victorian Market over the weekend 17-18 November, attracted by an ice rink, a small fairground and over 130 stalls.

Silt Stops Boats
An accumulation of silt in the Main Basin has resulted in vessels being unable to reach a berth. Yacht Dream Aweigh ran aground in the middle of the basin and was freed by dredging barge Riparian on 26 September. Canal & River Trust are looking to bring forward their planned January dredging programme.

Sharpness Anniversary
15th July was the 200th anniversary of the laying of the first stone in the wall of the old dock at Sharpness by HRH Duke of Gloucester accompanied by Col Berkeley and other dignatories. Attached to the stone was a brass plate with an inscription which correctly predicted that the construction of a secure harbour and a ship canal to Gloucester would extend the advantages of commerce into the interior of the kingdom.

Aetheflaed Anniversary
To mark the 1100th anniversary of the death of Queen Aethelflaed, historical reenactors brought her 'body' by longboat to the North Quay on 9 June, and from there it was taken in procession to St Oswald's Priory where she was buried.
 

Oliver Cromwell Lost
Former hotel barge Oliver Cromwell, seen leaving Sharpness on 23 May, sunk in the Irish Sea on 25 May while on her way to a new life in Coleraine. (Photo: Mike Nash)

Picnic for Waterways Workers
To celebrate Canal & River Trust's new emphasis on 'making life better by water', their employees and volunteers across the country were given time off to enjoy a picnic on 22 May. At Gloucester, the picnic took place on the Waterways Museum's trip boat Queen Boadicea, and as the boat passed Hempsted Bridge, a picnic bag was passed to the bridgeman on duty to show that he was not forgotten.

Loading Salt for Droitwich
In a curious reversal of history, on 4 May volunteers loaded bags of salt into a narrowboat at Gloucester to take them to Droitwich. They are due to arrive at Vines Park to feature in a weekend festival to celebrate the Ring formed by the Droitwich and Worcester & Birmingham Canals and the River Severn.
 

Special Delivery by Floating Dock
Robert Wynn's multi-purpose barge Terra Marique arrived at Sharpness on 26 April. Once in the sheltered water of the dock, the ballast tanks were flooded and the rear door was opened and the Thames Barge Gladys floated out to continue her journey to Gloucester for a major ovrerhaul. (Photo: Mike Nash)
 

Kaskelot Returns
Tall ship Kaskelot passed through Sharpness tidal basin on 5 April on her way to an overhaul at Gloucester.

Waterside Development Activities
As well as the major ongoing development at the south end of Bakers Quay, contractors are busy with site preparation work at three other waterside sites: McCarthy & Stone retirement living at the south end of Llanthony Quay, land around Monk Meadow Dock and the former cinema site across the canal from Sainsbury's.

Big Ship at Sharpness
Russian M/V Pola Sevastiana arrived at Sharpness on 8 January; the longest ship ever to visit the port (139.95m) with the largest cargo in over 60 years (6600 tons). She was too long to turn in the dock and so had to leave stern first on 15 January. 

Bridge House For Sale
Fretherne bridge house is for sale with an asking price of £550,000.

Landmark Demolition
The chimney of the former Permali factory was surrounded with scaffolding in December in preparation for its demolition.

Former Tug Addie for Sale
The former diesel tug Addie that worked on the G&S Canal in the 1950s is now fitted out as a three bedroom floating home at Blackwall Basin, Docklands, E14. She is currently for sale for £574,950 (cash buyers only). (Details)

Preparing for a New Next Store
Work has started on demolishing the restaurant adjoining the former cinema south of High Orchard Bridge to make way for a new Next store.

New Entrance for Museum
Plans have been submitted for a new entrance for the Waterways Museum. If approved, the work will be carried out January to April 2018. (Application Ref: 17/00999)

Oliver Cromwell Returns
The former hotel barge Oliver Cromwell returned to Gloucester on 28 September after an overhaul at Sharpness. (She returned to Sharpness in December)

Popular Beach
During the school summer holiday, the open area in front of the Waterways Museum was converted into a beach and an area for playing beach rugby.

RNLI Anniversary
Over the weekend 29-30 July, the Gloucester Branch of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution organised a celebration of the 150th anniversary of the launching of a locally financed lifeboat in the Victoia Dock in 1867. Visitors enjoyed looking at displays on the North Quay and watching a parade of historic lifeboats around the Main Basin.

Training Ship Visits Gloucester
TS John Jerwood arrived on the West Quay on 29 June and will be visited by sea cadets over the weekend. (Photo: Keith Reed)


Oliver Cromwell Leaves Gloucester
The former hotel boat Oliver Cromwell left Gloucester on 2 Jun after being a dominant feature in the docks for over twenty years. She is being sold to a private buyer who plans to moor her in London as a training school for young students of cookery and hospitality. (Citizen Live)

Kaskelot Departure
Barque Kaskelot left Gloucester on 14 April after a short overhaul. (Photo: Keith Reed)

Work Starts on Bakers Quay Redevelopment
Contractors Barnwood Construction started work on the first phase of the redevelopment of the south end of Bakers Quay on 10 April. This will include a new block of apartments, a Brewers Fayer restaurant, a Premier Inn and a Costa Coffee outlet. (More details)

Another Car Recovered
The wreck of a car has been recovered from Monk Meadow Dock by the dredger Riparian. Many shopping trollies were also recovered. (Photo: Keith Reed)

Dredging at Gloucester
A suction dredger started to remove silt from the Main Basin on 3 March. The silt is pumped through a pipe to an outlet in the small dry dock leading to the river.

Historic Ship Moves to Gloucester
Looe lugger White Heather has recently changed hands and will now be based in Gloucester. She was built in 1926 by Richard Pearce of East Looe.

Fosters Warehouse Demolition
The demolition of fire-damaged Fosters Warehouse on Bakers Quay is nearing completion with the careful removal of the columns and girders that supported the part of the warehouse that protruded over the quay.

Refurbishing Orchard Square
Work has started on laying electricity cables under the open space in front of the Waterways Museum as a preliminary to upgrading the area later in the year. 

Northwich Brought Ashore
The Waterways Museum's narrowboat Northwich was lifted ashore on 26 January for examination to determine a progamme of conservation work. The Museum's other narrowboats have been taken to storage until their turn for conservation.

Changes at the Waterways Museum
The motor launch Bluebird was taken away from the Museum on 19 January to be returned to its owner. It has been replaced by the last surviving example of a once popular type of cabin cruiser based on a war-surplus pontoon.

Revised Plans for Peel Centre
Revised plans have been submitted to Gloucester City Council for four large retail units backing on the canal opposite Sainsburys. They show conversion of the former Cineworld cinema and three new units to the south. (App Ref: 16/00005)

Panel to Show River Condition
Canal & River Trust installed a panel beside Gloucester Lock on 12 December to inform boaters about the strength of the current in the river beyond the lock with advice as to whether to proceed or not.

Demolition of Fire-damaged Warehouse
Work started on the demolition of the ruins of the former Foster Bros warehouse at Bakers Quay on 9 December.

Fire at Sharpness
A serious fire damaged the New Earth Solutions recycling centre to the west of the main dock on 2 December. More than fifty firefighters and eleven appliances were in action at the height of the incident. (Citizen 3 Dec 2016)

Advertising Sign in Docks Car Park?
In response to applications to install seven double-sided digital signage units around the docks area, the Council's Conservation Officer has recommended that the only acceptable location would be the car park adjoining the Victoria Dock. The unit would be used for promoting events around the city, for advertising local businesses and to help the public find the nearest business of their choice. (App Ref: 16/01295)

Skating Rink For Christmas
A skating rink opened in front of the Waterways Museum on 17 November. 

New Mooring for Oliver Cromwell
Stroud District Council have received a planning application for the former hotel boat Oliver Cromwell to move from Gloucester Docks to become a floating bed and breakfast hotel with a permanent mooring at the Castle Restaurant and bungalow just north of Parkend Bridge. (App Ref: S.16/2500)

New Restaurant Open
The Grill Shed opened in the Merchants Quay development on 26 October, offering Californian cuisine. (Website)
 

Unusual Visitor
This curious craft stopped briefly at Gloucester on 18 October on its way to Upton upon Severn where it will be used as a temporary wharf for loading gravel into barges. It was converted from a former mud hopper at R W Davis & Son's yard at Saul Junction. (Photo: Keith Reed)

New Flats By Docks Entrance
County to County Property Group have submitted plans for fourteen apartments in a new building beside the Southgate St entrance to the docks between the Tall Ships pub and the Albion Cottages. (App Ref: 16/00960)

 

Lock Open Day
On 18 September, Canal & River Trust staff invited the public to go down inside the lock on the Stroudwater Canal at Saul Junction that is being refurbished with the help of a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund. Visitors were able to appreciate the patterned stones used in the lock walls, the curved brick floor and the massive wooden gates with tilting paddle boards.

Beach Weekend
Orchard Square in front of the Waterways Museum was turned into a beach for the August Bank Holiday weekend. One area was reserved for games of seven-a-side beach rugby, and another enclosure was for children to play on the sand while parents watched.

Junction Lock Being Dewatered
The lock on the Stroudwater Canal at Saul Junction is being dewatered by the Canal & River Trust as part of a restoration project partly funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund. (Photo: David Viner)

SS Freshspring Refurbishment
Former Royal Navy water carrier SS Freshspring is being overhauled in Sharpness dry dock as a first step in bringing her back into working order. (Website) Sharing the dry dock is the former grain barge Chaceley which is being shortened and adapted for living aboard.

Land Train Trial
A land train operated regular services between St Mary de Lode church in Southgate St and Orchard Square in the Docks as a trial over the weekend 5-7 August.

Chimney Height Reduced
The chimney of the former Price Walker saw mill, which has long been a landmark for those travelling along the canal south of Gloucester, has been reduced in height by 50 feet, and the top few feet of the remaining brickwork has been repointed. The stump will carry aerials for a local firm.

New Plans for Orchard Square
Gloucester Quays have delayed plans for a major development of Orchard Square in front of the National Waterways Museum and have put forward plans for a simpler interim refurbishment. The design includes two feature areas for small scale events, improved lighting, and seating which can be moved when the area is used for big events. (App Ref 16/000829)

Waterways Museum Re-opened
After a major refurbishment, largely financed by the Heritage Lottery Fund, what is now to be called the National Waterways Museum, Gloucester, re-opened to the public on 29 July. The new displays focus on the waterways between the Bristol Channel and the Midlands.
 

Assisted Living Beside the Canal
McCarthy & Stone have submitted plans for a development of assisted living apartments beside the canal to the north of High Orchard Bridge with a block of retirement apartments behind. (App Ref 16/00634)

Paddleboarders Clean up Rubbish
A group of stand-up paddleboarders led by Kev Brady did a fantastic job clearing rubbish from the canal on 11 June. They collected 48 bags of rubbish, 2 shopping baskets and a kitchen sink, and they rescued a hedgehog and a seagull. (www.facebook.com/supgloucester/) 

Canoeists from Shropshire
Members of the Shropshire Wildlife Trust put on a show in the docks on 11 June, having spent eleven days travelling by foot, pedal and paddle all the way from the source of the River Severn at Plynlimon. The project aimed to celebrate Britain's greatest river and raise awareness of its natural and historic heritage. (Photo)

Many Boats in Main Basin
Over 30 boats lined the quays of the Main Basin on 28 May for the Big Bash organised by the Bristol Channel Yachting Association. They included a mixture or yachts and motor cruisers, all looking smart with flags flying. (Photo)

Cars Removed from the Canal
The Canal & River Trust have removed three cars from the G&S Canal near Hempsted Bridge. They expected to recover one, and they were surprised to find there were two more. (Citizen 14 May 2016)

£100m Investment for Docks Area
Peel Holdings are planning to start work on a major development of up-market housing around a marina in Monk Meadow Dock. They also plan to refresh the Peel Centre business park to include a new megastore. (Citizen 12 May 2016)

Stand-Up Paddleboarding
River Severn swimmer Kev Brady is offering adventurous visitors a new way of seeing the docks. He has set up SUP Gloucester to provide equipment and tuition for those wishing to try stand-up paddleboarding in a historic setting. (Website)

Designs for New Restaurants
Gloucester City planners are considering a proposal to convert former offices at the north end of the Victoria Dock, with extensions overlooking the dock, to accommodate four new restaurant units. (App Ref 16/00381) (Image)

Another Tall Ship Arrives
Tall ship Earl of Pembroke came up the canal to Gloucester on 25 March for work to be done in T Nielsen & Co's dry dock. (Photo: Keith Reed)

Kaskelot Leaves Gloucester
After a survey in Tommi Nielsen's large dry dock, barque Kaskelot left Gloucester on 11 March. (Photo: Ted Tedaldi)

Tall Ships at Gloucester
A good collection of tall masted vessels make a fine sight around Tommi Nielsen's shipyard. (Photo: Ted Tedaldi)

Junction Lock Gates Removed
The four gates of the lock on the derelict section of the Stroudwater Canal at Saul Junction were lifted out and laid on the ground nearby on 18 February. (Photo) The Canal & River Trust are arranging for new gates to be made, reusing the original ironwork, in a project that is supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund.  

Tall Ship Arrives for Docking
Tall ship Kaskelot came up the canal to Gloucester on 21 January for work to be done in T Nielsen & Co's dry dock. (Photo)

Plan to Replace Fire Damaged Mill
Following the disatrous fire at the former Foster Bros oil and cake mill on Bakers Quay, Rokeby Merchant Place Developments are proposing to replace the ruin with a new build which reproduces some features of the original but with aluminium cladding and balcony windows on the north and south elevations. (Image) They are also proposing changes to other details around the site in response to comments made about the original plans. (App Ref 15/01144)

Christmas Lights
Five vessels moored in the Main Basin at Gloucester have been lit up with strings of lights, and fairy lights have been hung on some buildings. The project has been organised by Marketing Gloucester. (Photo: Keith Reed)

CRT Seeking More Canal Volunteers
The Canal & River Trust is looking for more volunteers to join a group carrying out tasks such as fence building and vegetation clearance along the G&S Canal. The group meets one Wednesday and one Tuesday each month. (Citizen 10 Dec 2015, More)

Pirate Ship Approved
Gloucester City Planning Committee has approved the principle of a pirate-themed floating cafe and party venue in the Victoria Dock. There remains a question as to whether it will be given a mooring space as the marina is full. (Citizen 3 Dec 2015) (Photo)

New Lifeboat
A new inshore lifeboat for the Severn Area Rescue Association at Sharpness has been dedicated by the Bishop of Gloucester, the Right Reverend Rachel Treweek, and a bottle of champagne was broken over its bow. (Citizen 1 Dec 2015)

Street Art
Bristol-based street artist Jody Thomas has created a painting on a wall outside the Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum using a spray can. It depicts two soldiers walking through a field of poppies. (Citizen 13 Nov 2015)

Goodbye to Swallow
The historic tug Swallow, which has been based in the Victoria Dock for the last two years, has moved to a new mooring at Diglis.

New Brewery Shop
Gloucester Brewery has opened a new shop and tasting room adjoining their brewery in Fox's Kiln, next door to Alexandra Warehouse. The shop will stock all of the brewery's beers, and visitors can enjoy a tour to see how the beers are made.

New Life for Old Lock?
The Canal & River Trust has submitted a Listed Building Consent application to Stroud District Council for the restoration of the old Stroudwater Canal lock at Saul Junction, for which a grant is being sought from the Heritage Lottery Fund. The aim is to replace the gates, refurbish the paddle gearing, improve the lockside landscaping and provide new interpretation.

Dry Dock Walkway Open Again
T Nielsen & Co have completed the refurbishment of the gates at the entrance to the small dry dock, and the walkway over them reopened on 26 October.

Boathouse Plans Approved
Plans for a new £1.5m boathouse for Gloucester Rowing Club were approved by Gloucester Planning Committee on 6 October. The building will be on the west side of the canal with access from the South-West Bypass through Hempsted Meadows. (App Ref 14/01195) (Image)

Five Vessels for Overhaul
Five sailing vessels recently passed up the canal to Gloucester to be overhauled by T Nielsen & Co. These are Bristol Channel pilot cutters Mascotte and Alpha, modern pilot cutter replicas Kochi and Ezra of Lerwick and classic yacht Sceptre.

Warehouse Fire
The derelict warehouse on Bakers Quay that was formerly part of Foster Bros Oil & Cake Mill was devastated by a major fire during the evening of 3 October. The blaze was eventually put out by Gloucestershire Fire Service, and two 19-year-old men have been arrested by police on suspicion of arson. (Photo: BBC News Website)

Unusual Arrival
Dock gatemen at Sharpness spotted a dolphin swimming in the dock on 28 September. Volunteers on two of the Severn Area Rescue Association's boats managed to coax it back into the river. (Sharpness Port Facebook)

Fanzone Popular
The fanzone created in Orchard Square in front of the Waterways Museum has proved to be a popular place for watching Rugby World Cup games on a huge television screen. Fans can watch from raised seating or from a large area of artificial grass. (Photo)

Canal Rescue
A man was rescued from the canal by the fire service after having jumped from High Orchard Bridge. Police had previously closed off the road over the bridge while they tried to coax him to safety. (Citizen 19 Sep 2015)

Plans for Bakers Quay
Gloucester City planners have received plans for the refurbishment of the derelict buildings at the south end of Bakers Quay to provide shops, bars and restaurants on the ground floors and flats above. The plans by partners Rokeby Developments and Merchant Place Developments also include a drive through Costa Coffee, a Premier Inn hotel and car parking. (App Ref. 15/01152) (Image)

Orchard Square Beach
Over the weekend 29-31 August, the former car park now known as Orchard Square was transformed into a sandy beach. Part of the area was used for playing beach rugby and another part for family activities. 

Scrumpty Sculptures in the Docks
As part of the build-up to the Rugby World Cup, a series of rugby ball shaped figures were installed around the city on 1 August. They proved popular with families who enjoyed wandering around looking for all twenty of them. (Photo)

Work Starts on Creating Fanzone
The car park in front of the Waterways Museum has been closed, and contractors have started taking down two of the shelters and creating an area for watching World Cup rugby matches on a large screen. After the World Cup, further work will be carried out to create a piazza with new steps, street funiture and lighting.

New Wetherspoon's Pub Opened
The Lord High Constable of Enland pub was officially opened on 30 June. It occupies the former Coots cafe/bar beside the Gloucester Waterways Museum and has a beer garden overlooking the Main Basin.

Largest Ship for Nielsen's Yard
The three masted Danish schooner Den Store Bjorn that came to Gloucester on 28 May will be the longest ship ever to be worked on at Nielsen's yard. She is due to be re-caulked and given new copper sheathing. (Photo)

Tall Ships Festival
Gloucester's fifth tall ships festival attracted huge crowds over the weekend 23-25 May. (More)

Plans for Bakers Quay
Rokeby Merchant Developments are working to submit a planning application for the south end of Bakers Quay. The scheme includes a new Premier Inn hotel, a Brewers Fayre pub, bars and restaurants along the waterfront and the conversion of several of the listed buildings into apartments. (Citizen 23 May 2015)

Students Help at Saul
More than thirty public services students from Gloucestershire College spent a day filling in potholes in the car park at Saul Junction as part of their BTEC course. (Citizen 18 May 2015)

Body Found in Canal
The body of a woman was recovered from the G&S Canal near to Monk Meadow Dock on 14 May. Police believe the woman came from Swindon, and the death is not being treated as suspicious. (Citizen 16 May 2015)

New Pub Open
Gloucester Brewery have opened their new Tank real ale bar in their former brewing premises in Llanthony Rd. Small batches of experimental beers will still be brewed on the premises while their man brewing plant has been moved to Fox's Malthouse on the other side of the dock.

Yacht Club Premises on the Market
Following the closure of Gloucester Yacht Club at the end of January, the lease of the Club's premises is being marketed by commercial property consultants Alder King. (Citizen 11 May 2015)

Wedding at Mariners' Church
A local couple were married at the Mariners' Church on 8 May, the first such ceremony for more than ten years. (Citizen 9 May 2015)

Conversion of Peel Centre Cinema
Gloucester City planners have received an application to convert and extend the former Peel Centre cinema to form three warehouse type retail units. The illustration shows the proposed frontage facing the canal. (App Ref 15/00158)

Docks Offices for Sale
The former merchants' offices in Commercial Rd, adjoining the Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum, have been put up for sale by Gloucester City Council with a guide price of £395,000. The back of the building overlooks the Victoria Dock, and the Council would like it to be put to a use that will attract more visitors to the area. (Citizen 8 May 2015)

Sharpness Docks Estate
The latest plans for the development of the Sharpness Docks Estate were presented at a public exhibition on 27-28 March and are now on-line. The far reaching proposals include new houses, employment space, a marina and tourism and leisure facilities on land owned by the Canal & River Trust.

Bridge Opening Trial
The Canal & River Trust is planning to install new technology to enable remote control of the bridges on the G&S Canal either by a boater's smart device (phone or tablet) or by a single operator in a new Bridge Control Centre. It is planned that Sandfield Bridge will become remote controlled in August/September 2015, and the Trust will consult widely with key stakeholders. (Website)

Gloucester Brewery Moving
Gloucester Brewery has started moving their main brewing equipment into the former Fox's malthouse on the west side of the dock, and work has started on converting their premises beside Llanthony Rd into a pub.

Bakers Quay Eyesore Sold
Contracts have been exchanged for the sale of the land and derelict buildings at the south end of Bakers Quay. The buyer is Rokeby Developments, based in County Durham, who have been involved with a broad range of urban regeneration projects throughout the country. (Citizen 28 Feb 2015)

Memorial to Rope Man
A plaque has been erected beside a tree on the canal bank between Sandfield and Fretherne Bridges to commemorate the life of rope man Ben Selfe who lived on his boat at Saul Junction. The plaque was built by volunteers from the Cotswold Canals Trust. (Trow Spring 2015)

Work Starts on New Pub
Contractors started work in early February on stripping out the former Coots cafe/bar beside the Waterways Museum in preparation for converting the building into a new Weatherspoons pub.

Gloucester Yacht Club Closed
Gloucester Yacht Club closed at the end of January due to a lack of interest. It was established over fifty years ago.

New Hire Boat Launched
A new day hire narrowboat was launched from the owner's yard into the River Severn on 24 January and proceeded under its own power to its future base in the Barge Arm. Named Badger, it will be available for hire from 1 March, and a second boat is on its way. (Website)

Pilot Inn Re-opens
After a major refurbishment, the Pilot Inn beside Sellars Bridge, Hardwicke, has been reopened by the team behind the Stables Cafe at Sandfield Bridge and the Ship Inn at Framilode. The Pilot Inn will resume food offerings in March. (Citizen 24 Jan 2015)

Fire at Former Oil Mill
Flames engulfed a derelict section of the former Foster Brothers oil and cake mill on Bakers Quay on 5 January, leaving the roof badly damaged. The multi-storey warehouse building adjoining was not affected.

Former Fire Boat Sold
The fire boat Salamander, once based in Gloucester (more) and later converted to a pleasure craft based in Holland, has been sold to a couple who live near London. (Photo)

Body Found in the Canal
The body of a 60-year-old man has been found in the G&S Canal between Sandfield Bridge and Fretherne Bridge. The police are not treating the death as suspicious. (Citizen 22 Dec 2014)

New Use for Old Malthouse
Gloucester Brewery has applied for planning permissions to convert the former malthouse on the west side of the Main Basin to house their brewing operations and a visitor centre. (App Ref 14/01426)

New Houses Proposed for Sharpness
Stroud District planners are considering an application to build eight houses on the rear gardens of houses in Severn and Great Western Roads and a further fifteen houses and one flat on a former allotment site to the south. (App Ref S.14/1868)

Lottery Grant for Waterways Museum
Gloucester Waterways Museum has been awarded a grant of nearly one million pounds from the Heritage Lottery Fund. New displays will emphasise the role of Gloucester Docks and the surrounding waterways in transporting goods to and from the industrial Midlands, and the barge Sabrina 5 will become a floating learning space. (Citizen 15 Dec 2014)

Pirate Ship for Docks?
A planning application has been submitted for the siting of a replica pirate ship, operating as a cafe and children's party venue, in the Victoria Dock adjoining the Britannia Warehouse. (App Ref 14/01377)

Fire on Cruiser
Fire crews dealt with a blazing boat at Saul Junction on 10 December. The owner was not on board at the time, and the boat remained afloat. (Citizen 12 Dec 2014)

New Pub for Llanthony Road
Gloucester Brewery have been given planning permission to convert their brewery beside the former Coots premises and the adjoining former bridge house to a public house with an entrance and seating on Llanthony Rd. (App Ref 14/01086)

New Spa on West Quay
ZenZero Spa has opened in a unit on the West Quay that was previously used as a therapy clinic. The spa has been set up by Leanne Roche, former manager of the Virgin Active spa at Brockworth. (Citizen 27 Nov 2014)

Plans for Waterways Museum
Gloucester Waterways Museum has been given planning permission for a new glazed entrance lobby, repainting high level signage to walls and replacement of high level floodlights. (App Ref 14/00897-99)

Plans for Weatherspoons Pub
Weatherspoons have been given planning permission to convert the former Coots cafe bar to a public house with land at the dockside and facing the car park used as a beer garden. (App Ref 14/00853)

Tribute to Boatman
Over sixty boats travelled in procession from Saul Junction to Gloucester on 12 September in tribute to fender-maker Ben Selfe who died recently. The procession was led by Ben's boat Knot Krazy which carried his ashes. (Photo)

Five Tall Ships at Gloucester
Five tall ships, including Irene, Kathleen & May and Earl of Pembroke, gathered at Gloucester to take part in filming scenes for Disney's Through the Looking Glass on 18 August. Many local people watched the proceedings from Llanthony Rd. (Photo)

Weevils to Fight Fern
Ecolgists from the Canal & River Trust have released 3,000 weevils into the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal to combat the growth of an invading water fern that could otherwise form thick mats on the water surface. (Citizen 4 Aug 2014)

Tall Ships Due for Filming
Tall ships are due to gather in the docks by 18 August for filming scenes for Disney's Through the Looking Glass. The Main Basin is being dredged in preparation for the visit. (Citizen 23 Jul 2014)

Ruth Dismasted
The 100 year old sailing vessel Ruth, which spent the early months of the year in Gloucester, lost her main mast and sails overboard on 16 July and had to be towed into Falmouth by the Lizard lifeboat. (RNLI website)

Partnership Chair Opportunity
The Canal & River Trust is inviting applications for the Chair of the South Wales & Severn Partnership as the current term of office ends in November.

Sula Lightship For Sale
The Sula Lightship, currently moored at Llanthony Quay and operating as a centre for complementary therapies, is for sale through Euro Ship Brokers. The owners, Jan and Agnes van der Elsen, plan to open the first traditional Shingon Buddhist temple in the UK, and they have been offered an internship in Japan to enable their dream to come true.

Royal Opening for Museum
After a major refurbishment, the Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum was formally reopened by the Duke of Gloucester on 30 May.

Sharpness Landmark for Sale
Luggs Farm on the hill above Newtown is on the market with Bruton Knowles for £450k. It is advertised as offering superb views over Sharpness Docks and the estuary beyond.

Warehouse Demolition
Agents for the Peel Group have applied for planning permission to demolish the large shed warehouse to the south of Monk Meadow Dock. Consideration is being given to the possibility of dismantling the shed and donating it to the Dean Forest Railway. (App Ref 14/00453)

Laser Scanner for Sandfield Bridge
A laser scanner has been fitted to Sandfield Bridge to check that the bridge deck is clear of objects before the bridge is swung and that no boats are in the water in the area which the bridge swings into. Early results of the trial are considered promising. (CRT The Source May 2014)

Wind Turbine Approved
Stroud planning committee have approved the building of 122 metre high wind turbine at Sharpness. The site is on the high ground to the west of the main dock. (Citizen 15 May 2014)

Floating Cafe Open
Cafe on the Cut has opened in a specially converted narrowboat moored in the Barge Arm. With seating for eleven, customers can enjoy breakfast, sandwiches, tapas, cream teas, hot drinks and cakes. (Citizen 6 May 2014) (Photo)

Award for T Nielsen & Co
T Nielsen & Co have been named as Boatyard of the Year 2014 in the annual awards organised by the Classic Boat magazine. (More)

Orchard Square Plans Submitted
Gloucester City planners are considering detailed proposals for a new public square on the site of the car park in front of the Waterways Museum. The plans show a largely open area with quality paving, overlooked by amphitheatre style seating with a timber canopy formed by a series of arching roofs. (App Ref 14/00415)

Docks & Canal on Street View
Gloucester Docks, the canal and Sharpness Docks can now be viewed on Google Street View, thanks to Canal & River Trust staff and volunteers who walked around carrying a 40lbs backpack fitted with a complex camera taking images every 2.5 seconds. (Citizen 17 Apr 2014)

Soldiers Museum Re-opened
The Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum re-opened on 14 April, following a £500k revamp helped by a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund. The Museum now has digital interaction, more activities, new trails and more dressing items for visitors. (Citizen 15 Apr 2014)

View Ships in Port
The Gloucester Harbour Trustees website now has a webcam viewing ships in dock at Sharpness as well as the earlier webcam viewing the tidal basin and the estuary.

Volunteers Wanted for Welcome Station
Canal & River Trust staff held an open day at Saul Junction Visitor Centre on 28 March to recruit volunteers willing to talk with visitors about the delights of the local waterways. To join the team, contact Shaun Brown on 07801 321 620.

New Stop Gates at Parkend
At the end of March, contractors were preparing to fit new stop gates at Parkend Bridge. The gates were made in Holland. (Photo) 

Interest in Tirley
A prospective buyer is interested in taking the former grain barge Tirley around to the east coast for use as a houseboat. The vessel has been moored at Sharpness for some years and is not in a good state, but her engine started up easily and ran for an hour without any problems. (Photo: Chris Witts)

Tenant for Lock Warehouse
The mobility store Ableworld opened a shop in the ground floor of the Lock Warehouse on 10 March. The store sells wheel chairs, mobility scooters and a range of household mobility products.

Sunken Boat Raised
A sunken narrowboat, which had prevented boats passing through Hempsted Bridge for several days, was raised on 26 February. The lift was achieved by inflating bags attached to straps that a diver had placed under the hull of the boat. (Photo: Philip Conway-Jones)

Market Square Plan
Gloucester Quays management have published plans to create an open plan area, suitable for events, to replace the car park in front of the Waterways Museum. It is proposed to remove some of the existing canopies and to replace the railings along Llanthony Rd with 'Spanish-style' steps. (Citizen 26 Feb 2014) (Photo)

Pub Plan for Bridge House
Gloucester Brewery has applied for planning permission to convert the adjoining Llanthony Bridge House into a pub for real ale fans. (App Refs: 14/00189, 00190)

Giant Transformer at Sharpness
A transformer made in South Korea and weighing 170 tonnes arrived at Sharpness on 18 February and was transferred to a low-loader to be taken by road to Walham sub-station north of Gloucester. (Citizen 20 Feb 2014) (Photo: Mike Nash)

Grant for Rowing Club
Gloucester Rowing Club has been promised a grant of £500,000 from Sport England towards a new boathouse on the west bank of the canal at Hempsted that will provide facilities for canoeing as well as rowing. The club still needs to raise £150,000 to cover the expected cost of £1.5 million. (Citizen 15 Feb 2014)

Webcams at Gloucester Lock
A new High Definition webcam at Gloucester Lock looks north up the River Severn and a second webcam looks south over the lock and Main Basin. The river level peaked on 14 February well above the level in the docks.

Peel's Plans for Bakers Quay
The Peel Group, owners of the Gloucester Quays shopping centre, have revealed a glimpse of their plans for redeveloping the south end of Bakers Quay, which is currently owned by the Bishop family. (Photo: YouTube) The picture shows a new block of flats between the former Downing's malthouse and the former Foster Bros oil & cake mill and a foot-bridge over the entrance to a new arm of the canal on the site of the former High Orchard Dock.

Farewell to Kaskelot
Tall ship Kaskelot left Sharpness on the 8.00am tide on 4 December. (Photo: Philip Conway-Jones from the Sharpness webcam) 

Kaskelot Leaves Gloucester
Crowds gathered at vantage points to see the tall ship Kaskelot pass down the canal on 1 December after a major refurbishment by T Nielsen & Co. (Photo) Almost 80 people were involved in the work, which included replacing many planks, most of the deck, the accommodation and the engines. 

Goodbye to Massey Shaw
After a thorough refurbishment by T Nielsen & Co, the former London fire-boat Massey Shaw was given a traditional salute by Gloucestershire Fire & Rescue when she left Gloucester on 22 November. (Photo) She is due to carry out sea trials between Sharpness and Portishead before being taken to London by lorry.

Soldiers Museum Revamp
Work has started on refurbishing the galleries at the Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum with the help of money from the Heritage Lottery Fund, although the tearoom and shop will remain open. The new displays, including a replica of a First World War trench, will reopen in April 2014 (Citizen 5 Nov 2013).

New Tearoom
A new tearoom at the Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum was officially opened on 11 October when tea and cakes were served to veterans of the Korean War. (Citizen 22 Oct 2013)

New Book Published
'The Gloucester & Sharpness Canal Through Time' by Hugh Conway-Jones presents 90 old photographs of the canal together with carefully matched views of the same scenes today. Published by Amberley Publishing, the book highlights the dramatic changes that have taken place at Sharpness to suit modern shipping practices while most of the old buildings at Gloucester have survived and found new uses.

Body in Canal
The body of a Frampton-on-Severn resident was found in the Sharpness Canal near to Sellars Bridge on 30 September. It is believed that he had fallen in the water a few days earlier while returning from the Tesco store at Quedgeley. (Citizen 1 Oct 2013)

New Masts for Kaskelot
As part of a long and very thorough overhaul of the tall ship Kaskelot (with the stern still covered by a canopy), the first replacement mast was installed on 12 September and the second followed a day later. (Photo: Susie Bayliss)

Shipyard Celebration
T Nielsen & Co are celebrating 25 years of working on ships in the dry docks at Gloucester, during which time they have established a worldwide reputation for repairing, restoring and building traditional ships. (Citizen 3 Sep 2013)

Homes Plan for Sharpness
The Canal & River Trust has put forward plans for a 300-home development comprising houses, apartments and eco-lodges on their land at Sharpness. Local residents have been invited to an exhibition of the plans on 21 August. (Citizen 17 Aug 2013)

Narrow Boat Cafe
The proposal for a floating cafe in the Barge Arm was approved by Gloucester Planning Committee on 6 August. (App Ref: 13/00646)

Wye Invader Visits Gloucester
The motor barge Wye Invader passed up the canal on 28 July and later returned to Sharpness. The barge became notorious when it was taken up the Wye to Hereford over twenty years ago.

Hempsted Quay Housing
The first residents have moved into a house on the Bellway Homes Hempsted Quay estate beside the canal in the middle section of what was known as Monk Meadow Quay. (Citizen 23 Jul 2013)

Oil Firm Moving
The last link between Monk Meadow Dock and the petroleum industry is due to end as Hobbs Bros's lease is expiring and they have planning permission to move to new premises in Spinnaker Rd. The heating oil distribution firm moved to Monk Meadow in the 1970s, taking over the site of the former Regent Oil Co depot which was supplied by tanker barges.

New Lounge Open
The Portivo Lounge cafe bar opened on 6 July in an historic building on the corner of Llanthony Rd and Merchants Rd. Originally a corn mill, the building had many uses before being restored as part of the Gloucester Quays project.

Docks Pub Agreement
Agreement has been reached for pub chain J D Wetherspoon to take over the former Coots premises adjoining the Gloucester Waterways Museum. (Citizen 2 Jul 2013)

Narrow Boat Cafe
A planning application has been submitted for a narrow boat moored in the Barge Arm to be used as a 12 seat cafe with associated living accommodation and with external seating on the adjoining quay-side. (App Ref: 13/00646) Local residents with questions have been invited to a meeting at the Dock Office on 4 July at 11.00 am.

Saul Junction Improvements
CRT volunteers, led by bridge keeper Michelle Crowther, are improving the appearance of the Junction by clearing weeds and litter, cutting overgrown bushes and painting the footbridge over the old lock.
A new pay & display machine has been installed at the Stables Cafe end of the car park, and CRT are considering providing white lined parking bays on the existing tarmac surface and laying a tarmac roadway around the main site near to the Willow Trust boats.

Mariners Hall Refurbishment
The congregation that worship at the Mariners Church are refurbishing the former mission hall in Llanthony Rd that has recently served as a night shelter for homeless people. A planning application has been submitted for the provision of office space, meeting rooms and accommodation for use by the church family and by the church family to serve the wider community. (App Ref 13/00636)

Fire Boat Trial
After a major restoration by T Nielsen & Co, the historic fire boat Massey Shaw was given a trial on 20 June. The powerful pumps sprayed a huge jet of water across the dock and soaked the side of Queen Boadicea II that happened to be passing.

Docks Rescue
On 19 June, a woman who fell into the water was rescued by a man who jumped in to save her. The woman was taken to hospital for a check-up. (Citizen 20 Jun 2013)

Canal Life to Feature in Opera
An aspect of life on the G&S Canal will be featured in a one act opera in Gloucester Cathedral on 4 August as part of the Three Choirs Festival. The Bargee's Wife is a story of a childhood tragedy told from multiple angles and times and filtered through the lens of fragmenting memories and personal insights experienced by people with dementia.

Albion Cottages for Sale
The semi-detached cottages near the Southgate St entrance to the docks are on the market for £150,000 each.

Victoria Bridge
The bridge over the entrance to the Victoria Dock was closed to boaters and pedestrians on 10 June after one of the security gates fell off its hinges. Canal & River Trust engineers soon refixed the gate and the bridge reopened later in the day. (Citizen 12 Jun 2013)

Mariners Church Alterations
A planning application has been submitted for altering interior partitions at the east end of the Mariners' Church to accommodate two new toilets and a creche/kitchenette. (App Ref. 13/00611)