Worcester Cathedral.
basil | 12/5/2005 | 12:25 pm
Worcester in the 1890’s.
The Harriet by George Harris
In 1902 George Harris, Barge owner and skipper, painted this picture of the “Harriet” on a piece of sail cloth using his boat paint.
This is virtually all that is left of the large fleet of Trows which carried thousands of tons of salt from Droitwich to the Severn Ports, London and the French coast as well as the fishing harbours. Before refridgeration salt was vital for preserving the fish on it’s journey to the shops. The “Harriet” was the largest boat capable of loading 115 tons.
Droitwich Barges lasted for over 100 years with the salt preserving the wood. when they were scrapped the timber was snapped up for houses and barns around Worcestershire.
George Harris also painted several interpretive pictures of the salt barges on the Droitwich canal. He used sail cloth and the oil paints from the boats and his ropework is an accurate record of the rigging on these lovely craft which survived to a great age being preserved by their cargo.
Max
Worcester Bridge.
When the present Worcester bridge was built in 1781 by John Gwynne the old stone structure from 1313 was demolished. It originally had a square tower in the middle which was one of the cities six gates.The gatehouse seems to have been damaged in the Civil War and was rebuilt in 1702. Demolition proved difficult and gunpowder was used. I wonder which brave labourer knocked out the key stone. Gwynne’s bridge was widened in 1932 by adding structures on both sides. It can still be seen in the middle of the arches. Gwynne, one of our finest bridge engineers, built Magdalene bridge,Oxford, Atcham and Shrewsbury Bridge. He built the fine Georgian houses to line his Bridge St which replaced Rush Alley. He was a Freeman of Worcester and is buried at St Oswald’s hospital. Max
1820’s Worcester Cathedral from Diglis.
This site was very popular with Victorian artists, where they recorded a variety of boats on the river.A narrow boat is entering the lock followed by a small 20 ton trow of the type using the Teme to Ludlow. max
