Gloucester Declared a Heritage Harbour as Proclamation Marks New Milestone
The historic moment was marked by a proclamation by Alan Myatt, the Town Crier outside North Quay, North Warehouse, proclaiming Gloucester’s new status.
To add to the excitement, immediately after the proclamation, a cannon firing took place commemorating the city’s deep connection to its maritime roots.
Attendees were also invited to board the Kathleen and May, the last British-built top-sail schooner of its kind still afloat.
Gloucester joins Ramsgate as the latest harbour to be named a Heritage Harbour and joins a network of 12 other locations, supported by National Historic Ships UK, Historic England, and Maritime Heritage Trust.
The aims of network is to help safeguard the harbourside, buildings, facilities and businesses that are vital to supporting working maritime heritage vessels.
The celebrations which take place alongside Gloucester History Festival will continue throughout the month, with a variety of historical events centred on maritime heritage and providing a fantastic springboard for Gloucester’s highly anticipated Bi-Centenary in 2027.
“We are very pleased to welcome on board Gloucester Docks, and Ramsgate’s Royal Harbour, during Heritage Open Days 2024, the largest festival of history and culture in the UK,” said Henry Cleary, Heritage Harbours’ convenor and chair of Maritime Heritage Trust.
“Heritage Harbours are about capturing the interactions between navigable water and the land and buildings alongside it. No other designation does this and we now have locations which represent the main types of historic port from the Roman period to the 19th century."
Tony Conder, Chair of the Gloucester Docks Bicentenary Working Team, said: "Heritage Harbour designation is an amazing achievement for Gloucester, building on the work of the City Council, Canal & River Trust, previously British Waterways, in bringing new life to the waterfront. It offers fantastic opportunities for all the current partners engaged within the historic Port of Gloucester to celebrate the Bicentenary in 2027 and to go on to strengthen the Gloucester Docks businesses and enhance the enjoyment of visitors to this maritime heritage site into the future."
Councillor Jeremy Hilton, leader of Gloucester City Council, said: “It’s an honour for our beautiful and historic city to receive this title. It’s important to preserve and protect our heritage for present and future generations and the docks have played a very important role the growth of our city for 200 years and continue to do so today. I’m grateful to everyone who has worked towards Gloucester receiving this official recognition as a heritage harbour.”
For more information on all the Heritage Harbours, and a map showing the locations, see www.maritimeheritage.org.uk/heritage-harbours/location-map