Gloucester is officially declared a Heritage Harbour, joining numerous other sites across the UK to help safeguard and preserve the harbourside, buildings, facilities and businesses that are vital to supporting working maritime heritage vessels.
The news was traditionally proclaimed by the town crier, Alan Myett, with the historic occasion being marked with a ceremonious cannon firing to commemorate the city's deep connection to its maritime roots.
Ceremony attendees gathered to witness the moment of declaration outside the North Warehouse at North Quay on Gloucester Docks, before also being invited to board the Kathleen and May, which is the last British-built top-sail schooner ship of its kind that's still afloat.
Other Heritage Harbours in the UK include Ramsgate, Ipswich, Stourport-on-Severn, Bristol, Exeter and more.
Celebrations continue alongside Gloucester History Festival throughout the month, with various historical events centred on maritime heritage in preparation as the city looks to its bicentenary in 2027.
The Heritage Harbour scheme is supported by National Historic Ships UK, Historic England and the Maritime Heritage Trust, whose chair, Henry Clearly, commented: '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, added: '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.'
Gloucester City Council leader, councillor Jeremy Hilton, finished: '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 in the growth of our city for 200 years; and continue to do so today.'
Check out the line-up at Gloucester History Festival and follow SoGlos's socials accounts for posts from the events!
