Gloucester Docks Past

Gloucester Docks are located at the end of the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal. The canal was opened in 1827 making Gloucester more accessible to sea going vessels that no longer had to navigate up the treacherous estuary with its shifting, unpredictable sands and tides.

Located almost exactly halfway between the bustling seaport of Bristol and the powerhouse of Midlands industry in Birmingham, Gloucester fulfilled a central role as Britain’s most inland port. The large sea going vessels would bring their cargos up to Gloucester where many would then be off loaded onto smaller crafts, such as the longboats, which would take the goods on up into the Midlands.

Over the years saw different cargos trading successfully through Gloucester Docks. In the 19th Century corn coming in would equal filling and emptying each of the warehouses 3 or 4 times a year. Gloucester was also one of the main importers of timber in the United Kingdom, which merchants would float in the canal to avoid it drying out and cracking. The 20th Century saw a peak in petroleum coming through Gloucester.

The decline in Gloucester Docks as a trading port came about through the changes in distribution methods across the country. The improved road and rail networks, overland pipes and the increased size of vessels importing goods led to Gloucester Docks decline.