Lydney Harbour
A few weeks ago we visited some friends who live near Chepstow and visited Lydney Harbour on the shores of the River Severn. The harbour offers some superb views across the estuary. In sight are the two Severn crossings, the famous Berkeley Castle, two nuclear power stations with reactors in various stages of decommision ( Berkeley and Oldbury), and the docks at Sharpness Docks.
View towards Sharpness Docks
The docks are to the right and the white building on the left marks the entrance to the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal
Berkeley Nuclear Power Station
The outline of the castle can just be seen between the two reactor buildings
The harbour, completed in 1821, has a small basin but it was an important port for the transportation of iron and coal from the Forest of Dean. Some of these goods would have found their way along the Stroudwater to the Thames and Severn Canals to London. Wood, particularly hardwood, was imported into Lydney for the plywood factory which was just inland.
Remains of a Severn Trow
Old photo of Lydney Harbour from http://www.sungreen.co.uk showing a line of beached trows
Behind the harbour, as can be seen on the picture above, lies the one mile long Lydney Canal which was opened in 1813 and linked inland to Pidock's Canal and various tramways and railways. It now provides moorings for yachts. The plywood factory is to the top right of the picture which was taken in 1957.
