Hulks on the riverbank at Purton (Tours Listed Below)
Courtesy of: Paul Barnett. Uploaded: Last updated - Sep 2009
Hulks on the riverbank at Purton (South Glos. side of Severn) in the 1950s.
Paul
is currently researching wrecks of vessels along the Severn. "This in turn
has included the the important collection of remains consisting 13 vessels
as beached on the foreshore of Lydney". He is organising tours
of the wrecks at Purton as detailed below. Optional donations in aid
of
the Severn Area Rescue Association can
be made as
able.
Tours are on going and Paul can be contacted on 07833 143231 to check availability and to organise individual or group tours. Scheduled site tours
Note this is the Purton on the opposite bank
of the river Severn to the Forest of Dean but such vessels served both banks of the Severn |
Paul is always looking for more information on the wrecks along the
Severn and can be contacted at : 
Paul
was presented with the 2007 Award from the Nautical Archaeology
Society through its Adopt A Wreck initiative.
The 'Friends of Purton' web site can be reached from this link.
The following was released towards the end of 2008: "The Purton Hulks have once again received national recognition at the Nautical Archaeological Society’ Annual Conference in Portsmouth. This comes with the recently formed Friends of Purton, being presented with the acclaimed Certificate of Merit for 2008 for their ongoing campaign to protect the unique collection of hulks on the foreshore of the River Severn at Purton Gloucestershire".
" The award was enthusiastically presented by Ray Sutcliffe the well respected historian and specialist producer of history and archaeology programmes for the BBC, whose works included the 'Chronicle' and 'Timewatch' series' and who went on to st ate “that he had fervently followed this campaign to protect the hulks”.
" Chairman of the Friends of Purton, Paul Barnett accepted the award by praising the efforts of the Friends and the N.A.S. and stating “the award represented a Bar with Honours to complement the currently held Adopt A Wreck Award for 2007, which in turn had done vital work to highlight the plight and national importance of this Gloucestershire time capsule”.
"Furthermore he applauded the sterling efforts of society members, Janet Presley, Brian Humphrey and Derek Newton-Goverd, for their continued efforts in ensuring the site is comprehensively recorded and documented despite the lack of formal recognition ...".
" Mr Barnett further states “that although efforts to have this site scheduled as a listed monument have fallen on deaf ears, The Friends will endure to campaign and thus have this unique site protected for future generations to enjoy".
" Readers may also be interested to know that a recent publication, Fore & Aft - The story of the Purton Ships Graveyard, which documents the site is available upon request by sending a S.A.E. to 22 Gurney Avenue, Tuffley, Gloucester, GL40YL. Furthermore slide presentations and a programme of site tours are scheduled throughout 2009".
Paul has prepared a talk on the hulks that were once at Lydney entitled "Fore & Aft, The Purton Ships Graveyard".
Society secretaries looking for Speakers can download the flyer by clicking here. The flyer also has details of how to book Paul for the Talk.
If you wish to comment on this photo or can supply names of people please click
here 
WANTED: Old photos, old postcards, ephemera and memories of the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire. U.K.