Another nautical talk by one of our regular speakers Paul. As always very entertaining and informative, following many years of research. The focus was next to the north pier of the entrance to Sharpness Canal into the Severn Estuary. A colourful character Tyke Langford, a well-known Sharpness shipwright was mentioned many times.

At one time the area was a Victorian Pleasure Ground, with a sandy beach. A tearoom and various dwellings for a holiday were in the vicinity. However, this did not last as the docks modernised.

We cannot be sure which ship was the first to be beached and broken up, either the Emigrant or The Madras (previous TS Vindicatrix and Arranmore) in the early 20^th century. The evidence is not clear; indeed, Paul came across a model of The Madras in Canada which then clouded the facts.

Paul then went on to mention other notable ships that were broken up, HMS Tribune (a gunboat), the keel plate of which was then used as a demolition dock. HMS Wolfhound and SS Argentina were notable tales and had connections with another shipbreaker in Newport, Cashmores. There was so much coal dust in the silt of Newport docks, it was cut as a useful commodity.

The talk could not end without mentioning Tyke again. This time he took a ship which ran aground and broke into two but then joined the two parts back together. Not sure if that would be allowed today?

The practise ended in the 1940s and little can be seen of the site today. A warm round of applause to finish.