Gloucester Docks

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Many thanks to The Canal and River Trust for facilitating this camera's location and capitally funding its installation. The Main Basin, located at Gloucester Docks, was constructed as the endpoint of the ship canal, with an entrance connecting to the Severn estuary at Sharpness. As the project neared completion, concerns arose regarding the basin's capacity to accommodate the anticipated trade volume. To address this, an additional Barge Arm was constructed, ensuring that the Main Basin remained available for seafaring vessels. Furthermore, the Canal Company erected a warehouse at the northern end of the basin. On April 26, 1827, the canal was officially inaugurated, attracting a large crowd that witnessed the first two vessels enter the basin amidst the celebratory firing of guns and the ringing of church bells.Following the canal's full operation, local merchants swiftly capitalized on the new infrastructure. By importing through Gloucester, they eliminated the need for transshipment in Bristol, which incurred high port charges. Cargoes could now be directly transferred to narrow canal boats, which transported goods upstream via the river and inland canals to supply the burgeoning industrial towns of the Midlands.Gloucester's advantageous inland location proved to be a significant asset, exceeding expectations in terms of traffic volume. Alongside the trows and barges already employed in river and coastal trade, an increasing number of two-masted brigs, schooners, and some three-masted barques began traversing these waters. Early imports included corn from Ireland and the Continent, timber from the Baltic and North America, as well as wines and spirits from Portugal and France. The primary export was salt, transported downstream from Worcestershire via the river.