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

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