Hulks reveal hidden secrets

I've been following the wonderful developments at Purton where Marine Historian Paul Barnett has been working to preserve the 'Purton Hulks' - why you say have I got a pic of the launch of the Stroud currency? Well Paul is holding the £1! Anyway here is his latest news:

Following what is now being billed as the first ships excavation to take place this century, the last remaining Kennet built barge Harriett of the now famous Purton Hulks is set to take centre stage amongst the country’s archaeological fraternity and ignite a massive debate into the distinct lack of national funding for our nations maritime archaeology.

This comes in the wake of this week’s site excavation of the vessel by volunteer guardians of the site, The Friends of Purton, set up in 2008 in light of continued governmental inactivity to afford formal protection to the nation’s largest foreshore ships graveyard in the country.

Friends of Purton Chairman Paul Barnett today remarked “that despite it being too early to comment, I am thrilled with the results and believe that there is so much more to discover regarding this rapidly disappearing epitaph to a dwindling maritime way of life and a once proud maritime nation.”

In line, Head of Archaeology for the Friends, Laurent Coleman, heralded the excavation as “a great success, the works giving a vital insight into the state of preservation of the vessel and answering questions regarding the hull form and construction. Further I am immensely impressed by the hard work and cooperation demonstrated by members of The Friends of Purton, of the NAS and of the local community in achieving our common aim. I look forward to presenting a report to the archeologically world in due course”.

This early success has been marked by Mark Beattie - Edwards,Programme Director,
Nautical Archaeology Society, who issued this from their Portsmouth headquarters “The NAS are delighted to see what quantity of the Harriett actually remains preserved beneath the ground at Purton. The challenge now of course is to try and protect in any way we can the remains above the surface for all to enjoy. I am sure that the Friends of Purton will work tirelessly to this end and will not rest until their heritage is protected for future generations and for that we applaud them”.

The excavation itself was conducted as part of a rolling programme to record the entire site and was carried out in conjunction with 3D laser scanning of the exposed timbers by Vista, University of Birmingham and a magnetic surveyconducted by Worcestershire based Stratascan Ltd. Further details on this and the other vessels within the Purton Hulks fleet please visit www.friendsofpurton.org.uk

Plus here are the details of a programme of guided tours through the remains of the Purton Hulks in the company of Paul:
Sunday 17th January 2010 1pm
Sunday 21st February 2010 1pm
Sunday 21st March 2010 1pm
Sunday 18th April 2010 2pm
Sunday 2nd & 16th May 2010 2pm
Sunday 6th & 20th June 2010 2pm
Sunday 4th & 18th July 2010 2pm
Sunday 15th August 2010 2pm
Sunday 5th & 19th September 2010 2pm
Sunday 17th October 2010 2pm
Sunday 21st November 2010 1pm
Sunday 19th December 2010 1pm

Meet Purton Lower Bridge - Tour fee £3.50 per person - Approx tour time 2 hours weather permitting - Slide show presentations also available upon request Tel. 07833 143 231 or Barnadillo(at)aol.com

Purton Hulks latest

Some will know I've covered on this blog some of the ongoing developments of the Purton Hulks - The Largest ships graveyard in Mainland Britain - see for example here and here. It is good to see some movement on this - let us hope the new Marine Bill will afford protection. Anyway below is their latest press release on this...

Purton' forgotten Hulks lead way to a proud maritime nation

Following its national exposure on the BBC' flagship geographical programme Coast, to be shown Tuesday July 28th BBC2 8 pm, The Purton Hulks are destined to make a welcome return to our T.V screens later in the autumn.

Once again the peaceful and calm river setting in the heart of Gloucestershire's green belt is to be the location for continued debate and discussion regarding the nations rapidly dwindling maritime heritage. Set amongst the rolling back drop of the Forest of Dean, once famed for its rich supply of hearts of oak, the Purton foreshore and its now famous hulks are set to be catapulted into the public eye following the recent filming by the BBC for its popular investigative reporting series Inside Out to be screened in September 2009.

September’s program, hosted by the eminent Maritime Archaeologist and veteran presenter Professor Mark Horton, seeks to unravel this complex and long running legal battle to have this unique collection of remains protected for the nation. Filming which took place during a packed weekend schedule of archaeology and surveying led by the Friends of Purton proved to be ever popular and was attended by the Nautical Archaeology Society, Cotswold Archaeology and the MP for Stroud David Drew.

As an avid Friend of Purton and campaigner, Professor Horton has openly criticised lack of protection in a recently published article within the archaeology journal Rescue News for what he sees as a distinct lack of the Agencies legal powers. "It does seem extraordinary that this nationally important collection of over 80 ships and barges should simply be allowed to vandalised at will, and there is nothing that can be done at present to stop it. Our heritage is becoming firewood!'

Friends founder Paul Barnett remains steadfast that the site is worthy of national recognition despite the repeated and ongoing incidents of wanton destruction. Furthermore he stated, "That despite the continued efforts of both the Friends and several thousand like minded individuals who have pledged support via the ever growing petition, English Heritage continues to deny the nations largest ships graveyard purposeful protection in law" "This has been further complicated as agency claims that the sites status as a Special Site of Special Interest (SSSI) is adequate to protect the archaeology, despite the glaring fact that SSSI law is primarily concerned with the flora and fauna and in essence disregards archaeology".

"We remain indebted to the BBC and Professor Horton for highlighting the case and urge all to contact their MP in support"

This position has now been further strengthened in a statement made earlier today by David Drew MP for Stroud who stated “I am pleased that under the Marine Bill we now have some protection for marine shoreline artefacts – but we will have to see how this works in practice. I have been talking to both English Heritage and the Heritage Lottery Fund on how we can use the legislation to fully protect the Purton Hulks and to find some funding to get this really exciting project the support it now needs.”

For further details on how to join the Friends of Purton or pledge your support visit www.friendsofpurton.org.uk

Purton Hulks: more tour dates for this extraordinary site

Paul Barnett, a Marine Historian, who has family living in Whiteshill has almost single-handedly led the battle to protect Purton Hulks - and recently gained the title of 'Winner of the Nautical Archaeological Societies: National Adopt A Wreck Award 2007.'

Photos of Purton Hulks by local Scribbler Russ using camera rather than pen

In this post Paul advertises the talks and tours on offer - well worth it to disciver more about these extraordinary beasts lying on the foreshore. See previous posts here re Purton Hulks.

The Purton Ships Graveyard

I originally came across the Purton Ships Graveyard as a boy in 1976 and spent many a summer afternoon exploring the then almost intact vessels, whilst engaged in childhood fantasies of cutlass wielding pirates and a life of adventure on the high seas.

It was not until many years later in 1999 and upon returning from a life at sea for real, that my passion for the site (now sadly much eroded/destroyed) re-ignited and I embarked on a privately funded course of study to locate, chart and identify as many of the hulks a possible. To this end it has been established that the site, which stretches 1.5km to the north of Sharpness New Dock entrance, is the final resting place of 81 vessels and encapsulate steel, timber and concrete constructions.

Amazingly, ongoing research has established that the site is now deemed to be the largest of its kind in the U.K. and is formed in distinct layers including mighty ocean going schooners, reliable Severn Trows, sturdy Wich Barges, revolutionary concrete lighters and extremely rare Stroudwater and Kennet barges.

I would therefore be honoured to address your society and share the wonders of these once fine vessels whilst providing a historical narrative through the use of a unique slide presentation and an extensive photographic archive. This in turn will include information relating to original shipwright dimensions, cargo trade routes, former crewmember anecdotes and a description of the heroic beaching process onto the wind swept foreshore of this sleepy Gloucestershire hamlet.

The commentary is further complimented and vividly enhanced by the use of a mobile photographic exhibition, which aids to chronicle the life and sad demise of each vessel and in doing so, it gives a rare insight into the working live of each vessel, again during early days of abandonment and finally post decomposition/vandalism/arson/trophy hunters. Further and by the use modern surveying techniques, I have produced and will present as an aid to your membership, a schematic diagram, which locates each vessel by scale and heading.

In light of this, I am able to offer an individually tailored slide show ranging between a 30 minute site overview to a fully comprehensive two hour historical study of a long since extinct way of life. This can either be achieved by the use of an informal presentation or by conducting organised tours of the site where your members can obtain a true sense of nautical, vessel diversity and scale.

Further for those wishing to attend site, I am able to offer a tailored package which includes the exclusive use of the Lammastide a family owned country pub offering a fully licensed restaurant and bar renowned for its excellent food, real ales and the warmest of Gloucestershire welcomes.

With fondest regards, Paul Barnett Barnadillo(at)aol.com - www.morturn.com

Fore & Aft - A programme of guided tours through the remains of the Purton Hulks

In the company of L. P. Barnett, Marine Historian

Scheduled site tours
Sunday 18th January 2009 1pm
Sunday 15th February2009 1pm
Sunday 15th March 2009 1pm
Sunday 19th April 2009 2pm
Sunday 17th May 2009 2pm
Sunday 21st June 2009 2pm
Sunday 19th July 2009 2pm
Sunday 16th August 2009 2pm
Sunday 20th September 2009 2pm
Sunday 18th October 2009 2pm
Sunday 15th November 2009 1pm
Sunday 20th December 2009 1pm

Meet Purton Lower Bridge. Donations in aid of Severn Area Rescue Association. or £3.00 per person. Approx tour time 2 hours weather permitting. Slide show presentations also available upon request Tel. 07833 143 231 or Barnadillo(at)aol.com

Updates: Tricorn House, Standish Hospital, Purton Hulks and A46 lorries

Updates on these topics which have been discussed at length previously in this blog (use search engine for items):

Photo: Fungi in Standish woods

Tricorn House - Stroud Life report that owners of Tricorn have been accused of trying to block a rival bid to re-develop it. Wellfair Holdings Ltd has put forward two different ideas for Tricorn House to Stroud District Council – but Dale Vince of Ecotricity, who wants to buy it, says they're not serious and the "building needs knocking down." Stroud District Council (SDC) is still trying to secure a compulsory purchase order (CPO) on the site - a move I fully support. The earliest these new planning applications will be decided is expected to be December.

Standish Hospital - Junior health minister Ben Bradshaw has approved the handover of the Standish Hospital site near Stonehouse, to Gloucestershire Primary Care Trust. It closed in 2004 when the new Gloucestershire Royal Hospital buildings opened. Many of us have been fighting to save it from closure for a long time. In July of this year, the PCT outlined various uses for the site including providing health and social care services, accommodation for older people with a range of disabilities, as well as services for people of all ages. Short term health and social care treatment could be made available, plus care for people between hospital and home.

Purton Hulk's - Paul Barnett has made a one man's crusade to save the ship graveyard on the eastern bank of the River Severn. This collection of ships beached has now been covered by the BBC and will appear in the Spring of 2009 with anchor presenter, Neil Oliver. As regular blog readers will know I have backed Mr Barnett's petition to make the site a listed ancient monument. From 1910, the canal authority beached old vessels to form breakwaters and so save the canal from river erosion. The last vessels to be beached were the motorised barge Severn Falcon and seven ferrous concrete barges in the late 1960s. The Friends of Purton are currently recruiting like-minded people to act as site guides, to conduct an ongoing programme of archaeological surveys and participate in forthcoming research programmed for 2009. For details on this or the petition call Mr Barnett on 07833 143 231 or email barnadillo@aol.com

Lorries and A46 - Heavy lorries are set to be banned from using some Cotswold villages as shortcuts as reported before in this blog. Gloucestershire County Council now looks set to approve a measure designed to stop lorries weighing more than 7.5 tonnes from being driven through many villages, except for deliveries. The lorry management zone is set to be brought in at the end of the year and lorries over 7.5t will be banned from using the A46 between Stroud and Brockworth, the A4173 between Pitchcombe and Brookthorpe, the B4008 between Stonehouse and Hardwicke, and the A435 between Seven Springs and Cirencester, as short cuts. This means an extra 34 lorries a day are expected to use the Air Balloon junction and Nettleton Bottom on the A417, with 162 more on the A419 at Stonehouse and an extra 68 at Stroud. The report to the committee stated the maximum increase in CO2 emissions would be 0.5% - however a point I made before is that if you reduce lorries you can increase cycling and walking which will hopefully even out any rises in CO2 that are forecast.

Update on Purton Hulks

Paul Barnett is astonishing! He has just left a comment on a recent entry re the Purton Hulks near Berkeley- see his comment at the end of the entry here, how he is working to protect these old wrecks and mobilizing support from all corners to get protection for the Purton Hulks. His comment gives the low down on recent successes - the plaques they are putting out, signatures collected, the media coverage and the great recent project of the People's Archaeological Academy.

He also mentions The Friends of Purton - they were formed in 1999 and exists to protect and promote the amenities of the Purton Hulks, Gloucestershire - the largest Ships Graveyard in Mainland Briton. They write: "We aim to ensure that the site provides both an attractive open space which can be accessed and enjoyed without being spoilt. We aim to support the application for governmental protection as a listed monument and therefore prevent further destruction and loss of the nations maritime heritage". Membership fees are £20 per year - More details from: The Friends of Purton, 22 Gurney Avenue, Tuffley, Gloucester GL4 OYL Or: barnadillo@aol.com

Anyhow I have now received another reply last week on my queries to Andy Burnham MP (Department of Culture, Media & Sport) on this topic: Thank you for your email of 20 May to Andy Burnham concerning the Purton Hulks and the case for their protection. I have been asked to reply. Of the current designation regimes, only one – the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 – could potentially encompass sites such as this. In making decisions about the designation (‘scheduling’) of ancient monuments, the Secretary of State’s interpretation of national importance is guided by criteria set out in PPG16: Archaeology and Planning and advice provided by English Heritage. I understand that English Heritage has recently indicated to Paul Barnett that it does not consider the case for the national importance of the Purton Hulks to be proven. There are several important issues here. One is that designation would not prevent the greatest threat to the hulks, which is coastal erosion. English Heritage has been a leading player in discussions about the impact of climate change and coastal erosion on the historic environment and has commissioned a programme of Rapid Coastal Zone Assessments to help us address the issues. It is also speaking to maritime museums and others to consider whether there are other options for the preservation of the most significant wrecks in English inter-tidal waters, such as lifting and preservation in museums of the rarest examples. This brings us to the second issue, establishing how important the Purton Hulks are in comparison to the many hundreds of wrecked boats surviving in the English inter-tidal waters. These boats have not had the benefit of the systematic recording which Mr Barnett has done at Purton, but English Heritage must assess all of them before it can establish a national picture against which the claims put forward by Mr Barnett for the significance of the boats can be assessed. In preparation for the reforms to designation procedures proposed in our draft Heritage Protection Bill, English Heritage is currently preparing a strategic designation programme which will focus in the first years on those parts of the historic environment that have been under-represented in past: a consideration of the issues raised by the Purton Hulks will be a key part of this. To this end, it hopes to complete its research and be able to assess the Purton Hulks properly in two years’ time. In the meantime their inclusion in the Gloucestershire Historic Environment Record (HER) should ensure that their archaeological potential is considered during any works which require Planning Permission under the best practice guidelines established in PPG16.

Purton Hulks: a letter to English Heritage

My letter to English Heritage re the Purton Hulks is below - see also previous items on this blog re Purton here (scroll down) - plus the weekends in June re researching the hulks further look fascinating - I will sadly miss both, but am sure there might be spaces if any folk are really interested. I've also again raised the issue of the hulks with Conservation Officers last week to see if SDC could do more.

Photo: One of Paul's photos of hulks - see rest here

Atten: Lord Bruce Lockhart, Dr Simon Thurley and Peter Beacham

I am sure you will be familiar with this unique site and the vessels, known as the 'Purton Hulks' (i). The 81 vessels form an important record, particularly with respect to the types of craft known to have traded on the River Severn: these include Severn Trows, sailing schooners and several types of lighter and dumb barges. I understand that in 1998 the area was subject to an assessment survey by Dr Toby Parker and a team form Bristol University. This survey, whilst it has formed the basis for more work at the site during future years, was known to be incomplete.

Several individual vessels have been surveyed by NAS volunteers in pursuance of NAS certification, and some have been ‘adopted’ by individuals within the NAS ‘Adopt A Wreck’ initiative. However, Paul Barnett, a local historian with a deep and abiding interest in the site, has adopted the whole site. His detailed examination of extensive archival material has led to individual vessels being re-appraised. In addition Paul leads walks through the site, trying to raise awareness of it. For his work last year (2007) Paul was declared the winner of the prestigious ‘Adopt A Wreck’ Award.

Paul Barnett along with others are planning further study of the hulks next month (ii). However I write to you, urging that you will consider more protection of this site. Already damage has been done to these vessels and indeed over recent weeks further vandalism has occurred.

From local press reports I understand English Heritage are reluctant to help protect this unique site that gives such an interesting historical view of life on the Severn. I would welcome a greater understanding of your view as this seems like just the sort of project that deserves your support. Indeed I read on your website that: "English Heritage exists to protect and promote England's spectacular historic environment and ensure that its past is researched and understood."

I look forward to hearing from you,

Cllr. Philip Booth,
Stroud District councillor for the Randwick, Ruscombe and Whiteshill ward,

Cc: Andy Burnham MP

Notes:

(i) The ‘Purton Hulks’ is the collective name for a large number of vernacular craft of different types that were deliberately hulked on the east bank of the River Severn. This activity took place over a period of years. The last known hulking was in the 1950’s.The intention of all this activity was to stabilise the bank, which was threatened with erosion due to the geological formations present in the area. The erosion process also threatened the Sharpness Ship Canal which parallels the river bank at this point.

(ii) The project will run over two consecutive weekends: 6-8 June, 14-15 June 2008. The first weekend will be used as a ‘training weekend’, giving the local community an opportunity to complete (free of charge) the ‘NAS Introduction to Foreshore and Underwater Archaeology’ qualification. This will involve ‘hands on’ practical training, leading to further development of skills as the project progresses. Training will be delivered by suitably-qualified NAS staff.
Paul Barnett of Friends of Purton on 07833143231.

Aim: To work with Paul Barnett, a local historianand community groups to extend the assessment of the Purton Hulks.
Objectives include:
a. To extend the shoreline assessment survey from the end of the 1998 survey toward the docks at Sharpness.
b. Repeat detailed surveys of hulks previously surveyed to assess ongoing environmental and humanly-caused damage.
c. To commence detailed surveys of hulks not previously surveyed and thought to be under threat.
d. To commence detailed surveys of hulks thought to be of archaeological and historical significance.
e. Provide training to local community volunteers and an opportunity to practice and develop taught skills
f. To involve the local community and generate awareness of the site, its historical significance and fragile nature.
g. With the agreement of British Waterways Association, and a satisfactory ‘Risk Assessment’, commence an ‘in water’ survey of two significant areas:
i. The ‘southern exit’ to the timber ponds.
ii. The lock pound at the Sharpness entrance to the canal.
h. Liaise fully with other interested organisations.

All project activity is to have regard for the ecological sensitivity of the area – there are several ‘Sites of Scientific Interest’ (SSSI), and conservation areas. The whole project area falls within a RAMSAR Zone.

More on Purton Hulks

The Citizen have covered Paul Barnett's efforts to preserve dozens of wrecks - he sounds like an amazing man who has focused all his energies into this project with the Purton Hulks - he even joked with me that his daughter was to be called 'Purton' when she was born - anyhow his Dad lives in Whiteshill so some might know him....

The latest news is that he now has the backing of TV archeologist Dr Mark Horton - Horton is best known for his appearances on BBC TV's Coast and Channel 4's Time Team and he is now endorsing Paul's efforts to preserve the Purton Hulks, on the banks of the River Severn near Sharpness. See previous blog entries on this here.

The hulks are under threat and need protection from the public - but as Paul has said: "The only way to protect them is to help the public know more about them and love them." I understand from talking to Council officers about this issue that there is a meeting at the site on 7th March - I am hoping there will be more moves to protect them.

To find out more or help Paul's research, email him at barnadillo@aol.com or ring 07833 143 231.

The Purton Hulks

As a councillor I just heard from an enthusiast - Paul Barnett - he has embarked on a privately funded course of research in order to locate, chart and identify as many of the Purton hulks as possible. Indeed he won the 2007 Award from the Nautical Archaeology Society through its Adopt A Wreck initiative.

Apparently from the waste weir in the north to the Sharpness New Dock entrance in the south, there are some 81 vessels - steel, timber and concrete constructions - the largest collection of this type of craft any where in the U.K. Read Gazette here. He has after 9 years of study identified 76 vessels and is now correlating individual histories for each. This includes overall dimensions, cargoes, trade routes, owners and crew, personal anecdotes and the eventual date and method of abandonment on the wind swept foreshore adjacent to this sleepy hamlet in Gloucestershire.

Paul also has in excess of 600 photographs which chronicle the life and death of each vessel and are catalogued to represent individual vessels afloat/in use, during earlier stages post abandonment and pre decomposition/vandalism/arson/ trophy hunters and finally as they look today. Furthermore and with the use of several sources and modern surveying techniques, he has produced a schematic diagram, which locates each vessel by scale and heading. He hopes to keep the research at the Gloucestershire office of the Sites & Monuments Record - see Pauls' photos of wrecks here.

This is all a fascinating look at life on the Severn - Paul's efforts to document this are to be applauded. Slide show presentations and tour details from 07833 143 231