Lydney Harbour

When driving back to Malvern from Chepstow in September, I made a quick detour to Lydney Harbour. The ugly industrial area that I passed through didn’t fill me with much hope, but I was pleasantly surprised to find a small harbour filled with an eclectic collection of vessels, some of which seemed to have been stationary for some time. Two huge gates held in the water and gave protection from the Severn’s tides. An Ice Cream van was doing good business and families were strolling around, enjoying the wide views across the Severn. A friendly old chap was engaging as many people as possible, drawing attention to a stone monument that was placed there to commemorate the Severn Railway Bridge disaster. On a foggy night in 1960 two barges collided, creating what must have been an apocalyptic fireball, they then smashed into and destroyed the railway bridge that spanned the river. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Severn_Railway_Bridge



I was aware of this terrible event, but having a clear view of where it took place helped give it a context. The photos I took on my phone look rather idyllic as the river reflected the blue sky, making it feel like a sea, but afterwards I had the idea of combining photography and drawing to depict the accident. This dramatic, but not necessarily well-known event is a good example of the potential for an augmented reality app/experience. If some of those families visiting that sunny day were able to hold up their phone next to that plaque viewing the river through the camera with Sharpness in the distance, they could see an illustration of the burning barges and collapsed bridge. I think the juxtaposition would be startling and as a result a more visceral experience. A more empathetic response would be achieved, which would give that plaque even more gravitas.



Slightly further up the A48 is Newnham-upon-Severn, a pleasant and historic village with an interesting church overlooking the river, which is yet another place to add to the growing list of places to spend more time investigating!



Location: Lydney Harbour, Lydney GL15, UK

Popular posts from this blog

Worcester Bridge to Bevere Island

Image
Walking north from Worcester I followed the Severn Way passing by numerous houses, sunken boats, through meadows and a pub garden (which was unfortunately closed due to the Covid-19 lockdown). A fair variety of trees, other plants and birds on this stretch...and the bright autumnal light helped give the river a more inviting colour than its usual muddy brown. As soon as the paved section of the path ended, I was pretty much alone for the majority of the journey, but there was the occasional walker sliding their way through the mud. The path gets alarmingly close to the water’s edge on several occasions and this along with the mud resulted in a slow, careful pace. Bevere Island  has a picturesque weir and a bridge that is on the verge of being considered a ruin. Being on the other side of the river would have helped as it may have given me a better view of the island. The history of this location isn’t necessarily obvious from its appearance but it has reputably been a place of sanc...
Read more

Harry the Coracle Man

Image
These images are based on the account of Harry Rogers, a man who lived on the banks of the River Severn in a house he built himself. There he made coracles and expertly navigated the river in this spherical craft to salvage whatever the water presented.  The coracle is an ancient form of boat that can be carried over land and manoeuvred with a single paddle. According to Wilford Byford-Jones (who interviewed Rogers in the 1960s), numerous animals could be found in his house and garden including a jackdaw and a fox cub called Billy!     References   Byford-Jones, W., (1967).  Severn Valley Stories.  Shropshire: Shropshire Star and Journal Ltd.
Read more