I.A.Recordings
Industrial Archaeology

Compilation 36: Raising the Spry - Inland Waterway video

In the late 1970's the last River Severn trow (the 'Spry') lay as a derelict heap in the mud of Diglis canal basin, Worcester. Once a common sight on the Severn and Wye navigations these sailing barges played a major part in the 18th and 19th Centuries transporting goods on the River - particularly from the expanding industries of the Severn Gorge, Shropshire. In a bid to preserve this unique craft, the Upper Severn Navigation Trust and the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust decided to recover the vessel and restore it to how it would have looked in 1894.

This tape follows the first step in the journey - the recovery in March 1983 of the 'Spry' from the canal at Diglis and the transport of the vessel to the Ironbridge Gorge Museum site at Blists Hill, Telford, where restoration was to take place. Recorded March 1983 This tape has no commentary. Running Time: 30 mins. £ 9.87

All images taken from the video.

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Last modified 24/03/01 Categories: Inland waterway history, canal history, inland waterway video, canal video