The Breach in the Gloucester Sharpness Canal

By Iris Capps

In 1990 a culvert failed close to Parkend Bridge (Castle Bridge), on the Gloucester Sharpness Canal.  The following words and pictures, taken by Tony Ashby, Sue Merrett and Judy Smith tell the story.

Tony Ashby's account

At the time Tony was working for Severn Trent.  He and his colleagues were working at Sandhurst when the call came to rush to Parkend Bridge to deal with the emergency.  Their first task was to put a barrier across the canal to stem the flow of water out of the canal.  Tony was allowed to take photographs of the interior of the culvert.

CLICK HERE to see a interview with Tony Ashby's account of the breach.
Photo:Castle Bridge
Photo:The dam holding back the water flowing along the canal from Gloucester.
Photo:Castle Bridge
Photo:The breach.
Photo:Looking into the breach.
Photo:Inside the culvert, the timbers used to line the culvert can be clearly seen.
Photo:Looking towards the Junction. The straw bales in the foreground were used to control the flow of water.
Photo:Looking towards the Junction. The pipes on the right carried water towards Bristol in the effort to keep up the supply to homes.
Photo:The pumps used to make sure water flowed through the pipes to Purton.
Photo:Equipment used to repair the breach was held in the field nearby on Oakey Farm.
Photo:The dam at Parkend Bridge
Photo:A further view of the dam
Photo:Parkend Bridge and the dam
Photo:The breach
Photo:A view of the activity at the Junction
Photo:The Junction
Photo:The effects of the breach lower down the canal
Photo:Looking twoards Parkend Bridge from the Whitminster bank
Photo:A further view of the canal looking towards Parkend from the Whitminster bank
Photo:Taken from the Saul bank
Photo:Looking towards Parkend.
Photo:The canal at the Junction, Wycliffe Boathouse on the left.
Photo: Illustrative image for the 'The Breach in the Gloucester Sharpness Canal' page
This gallery was added by Iris Capps on 15/04/2009.

Comments about this page

The Gazette of Friday June 22nd 1990 gave a report of the breach in the canal. The bridge keeper noticed a problem ' last Thursday' and it was reported to the emergency team. ' Work had been going on all week.' I have a photo of the shuttered off section under repair.

By Peter Gibson
On 11/12/2009

Add a comment about this page