Wednesday 6 June 2018

An afternoon stroll in Gloucester - along the waterside


We are often driving past Gloucester on our way back from Auction,and it is always too late to stop and visit.  However, yesterday our business was done early and we decided to park up in Sainsbury's car park, and walk along the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal approach to the city.  I think it is actually the River Severn incorporated into this canal here, but I may be wrong . . . .  I have been awake since 2.15 a.m. this morning and just had to crash out on the bed as my eyes went googly from tiredness!!!  Anyway, this wonderful old lightship is for sale - I don't think our cats would be impressed if we set up home on it!  Price: £450,000.


Part of Llanthony Secunda Priory.  This was established in Gloucester in 1135 after the many raids on Llantony Priory above Crickhowell in the Black Mountains.  Humphrey de Bohun and his daughter Eleanor de Braose (she was a daughter of the Marcher lord William de Braose and his wife Eva Marshall, co-heiress of the Earls of Pembroke.)  Check HERE for further information on the Priory. 



Wherever you look in the countryside (or here beside the river basin) Elder is blooming at the moment.  My hands are itching to make something of it, so some Elderflower handcream is on the books for this week.



Above and below: the huge warehouses which remain from Gloucester's nautical and trading past.  Grain was bought here in huge quantities and timber too.  See HERE for history.


Above and below: some of the old cranes have been preserved.






The canal is still used by narrow boat homes, and this one took my eye.



I presume this was the Lock Keeper's cottage.








There was still plenty of interest to see, as we walked back to the car.  There were a couple of old boats being restored and this one was by a lovely old building that looked so comfortable in its setting.





Looking across to the Cathedral.


Another restoration job, up on chocks in the dry dock.


You can just about read the old canal links to the Midlands reached from this building above.



Finally this old building intrigues and scares me.  The end view of it is the scary bit (forgot to take a photo of  that) - where part of it is open to the air and you can see the vastness of the rooms inside, where once grain was stored.  With "Maltsters" on the front, the grain must have been used in brewing.  I love the metal colonades.

I hope you enjoyed our walk.  There would have been more words but I am drooping (an understatement) and I have my patchwork class shortly, so I had better go and chuck a bucket of cold water over myself!!

15 comments:

  1. Thank you I really enjoyed the walk. Most of my 'walking' is done vicariously now! Really interesting and great they have preserved so much.

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  2. Glad you enjoyed it Jill. We didn't get to the Museums - I wanted to see the Folk Museum but signposts just disappeared. We'll have another afternoon there soon. Some old buildings to follow up for tomorrow's post.

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  3. Fabulous photographs, especially the boat and building one which follows the map of the docks, really beautiful! That was a walk with a difference. I love old docks, though I get saddened by the decay and loss of the industries.

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    1. That little corner had a nice feel about it, I have to say. We were debating going up and parking in Tesco's, as it's closer to the Cathedral, but saw Sainsbury's and knew how to reach that, and when we were there last time, did the same route into the city. Some of the big warehouses there have been replaced by flats, but the others seem to be hanging on in there.

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  4. Such an interesting walk and lovely photos. I love the plants in containers on the houseboat.

    I would so love to visit Gloucester Cathedral - I've only ever been to Gloucester once and that was for the funeral of an old friend.

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    1. It's worth a visit RR. A lot to see in the city, and then there are lots of interesting places not too far away - Slimbridge, Berkeley Castle etc. plus NT properties. Worth a short break.

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  5. That's a big old boat to find in a town

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    1. Isn't it? No one has bought it yet but it would be such fun to live on it.

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  6. Thanks for sharing your walk with us.

    God bless.

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  7. Fab post BB! Loved the warehouse building, the boats especially the pretty photo of the barge end. Great view to the cathedral. Your comment the other day about people just not wanting to comment on your ramblings is how I feel, but I've decided to carry on for my own benefit. I still get a fab record of what we have done to the house and garden and that suits me. (BTW, what setting did you check to see if all was well, though?)x

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    1. Glad you enjoyed theh post Lou. I do read your lovely posts and am guilty of not commenting often enough - I will try and rectify that. I am often just off to bed when I check in though, in my defence! You have done great things in a short time and I wish you lived nearer to pop round for coffee and cake : )

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    2. Ah that's a lovely thing to say and like wise.x

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  8. What a lovely tour you took us on, so interesting. That houseboat was so pretty and colourful.

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    1. It made a nice change didn't it? Friends of my daughter's live on a houseboat - she spends weekends with them sometimes and enjoys helping with the locks etc, but says she couldn't live on one - she has far too many possessions!

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