Reasons for Designation
Despite deterioration as a result of neglect, weathering and vandalism, the
Kennet built-barge known as HARRIETT, 430m west of Middleton House survives
comparatively well and represents the only known survival of an original
Kennet-built barge. The barge is particularly representative of a once more
common local vessel type, reflecting the significance of waterborne transport
in the development of the Bristol dockyards. The use of the vessel to
reinforce the riverbank on the west side of the Gloucester and Sharpness
Canal is of interest, but the importance of the monument is considerably
enhanced by abundant contemporary documentation and the survival of a wide
range of features meaning that HARRIETT has considerable potential for
providing an insight into late 19th century boat building construction
techniques.
Details
The monument includes an earth-fast Kennet built-barge known as HARRIETT
situated on the eastern bank of the River Severn, near the hamlet of Purton.
The barge is of carvel-built timber construction with cast iron fixings and
measures 21.94m long by up to 4.29m wide. The vessel is firmly embedded and
partly buried with all of her keel and part of her hull surviving below the
present ground surface. The hull currently extends up to 1.5m above the
ground. The barge is formed by broad timber planks laid end to end with a
smooth finish supported by vertically aligned frames. The interior is clad
with further horizontal planking known as ceiling planks. The timbers were
treated with steam and bent to provide the curve that gives the hull its
distinctive shape. At the stern are the remains of an elum (a combined rudder
and tiller) either side of which the transom is inscribed: HARRIETT to the
port and BRISTOL to the starboard. A cast iron plate is attached to the stem
post. The barge is divided into four bays by cross beams that are attached to
the top of the barge sides. Within the vessel are the remains of a mast
tabernacle and cast iron bilge pump.
The HARRIETT was built by Robbins, Lane and Pinnegar of Honeystreet, Pewsey
about 1900 for Ashmeads of Bristol. The company built barges for their own
use in the timber trade on the Kennet and Avon Canal from the early 19th
century. The coming of the railways in the 1840s saw canal traffic dwindle,
and Robbins, Lane and Pinnegar began to build barges for use by other
carriers on other rivers and canals. The barges for the Thames area were
known as Kennet barges. Larger examples such as the HARRIETT, known as
Honeystreet barges, were built to serve as transhipment vessels to carry
loads into the Bristol docks from ships that were too large to pass to the
east of the city. The HARRIETT was registered in Bristol and worked the city
docks. In 1964, she was beached at Purton, Gloucestershire, where she
remains, as part of an assemblage of beached vessels. From the early 20th
century boats were arranged in the riverbank in order to shore up the
neighbouring embankment of the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal, and latterly
as a convenient means of disposal.
The interpretation board adjacent to the north west side of the vessel is
excluded from the scheduling, but the ground below is included.
Sources:
Barnett, L.P. (2008) The Purton Hulks: the Story of the Purton Ships
Graveyard.
Benbrook, I. (1989) Bristol City Docks: A guide to the Historic Harbour.
Leather, J. (1984) Barges.
Parker, A. J. (1998) Remains of boats at Purton (East), Gloucestershire.
Archaeology in the Severn Estuary 9: 91-93.
Presley, J. (2010 Time, Tide and Harriett, Nautical Archaeology, 2010.1, 11.
MAP EXTRACT
The site of the monument is shown on the attached map extract.
It includes a 2 metre boundary around the archaeological features,
considered to be essential for the monument's support and preservation.
