Welcome to the blog of the Sharpness Hulks Archaeological Survey Project

This project aims to survey and identify the remains of four hulks located in the half pound of the Sharpness old dock on the Gloucester and Sharpness canal. The results of this project will be used as part fulfilment for the Nautical Archaeological Society's part 2 Certificate in Foreshore and Underwater Archaeology.

The four hulks are the Mary, the Society, and two unknown barges and are part of the Purton Hulks used to prevent erosion of the banks of the river Severn throughout the 20th century.

Sunday, 5 October 2008

Sunday 5th October 2008



Sunday morning and the weather had certainly changed for the worse, the rain lashed down and the wind was causing a choppy swell on the water of the pound, yet we intrepidly carried on.

The first task of the day was to sketch, photograph, and survey an unidentified object lying just off the stern of UH1. Unfortunately visibility was in the minus numbers and by feel only we tentatively "identified" a possible rudder assembly. An offset survey of the hull of UH1 was then conducted.

Being hampered by the bad visibility surrounding UH1 it was decided to take a look at the other 3 hulks within the pound. Video surveys, and stem & stern surveys undertaken using the total station were carried out.

By now the rain and wind were picking up again and it was decided to call it a day.

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