BIATS are meeting on Monday 26th October 2015 for an illustrated talk by Paul Barnett on The Severn Bridge Disaster.
(BIATS are the Barnwood Industrial Archaeology & Transport Society)
The meeting starts at 7.30pm in the S&SC Pavilion – All Welcome
Paul is a maritime historian who has played a leading role in investigating and researching the vessels known as the Purton Hulks near to Sharpness Docks. His interests have expanded to look into a number of related features, including the Severn Railway Bridge. He will give a comprehensive overview of the bridge’s construction, its day to day operation and its eventual destruction in the tragic accident and fire of 1960 involving two oil tankers. His researches have revealed much new information and have cast doubt on some of the stories which arose from that terrible night. We will also hear about the stone memorial to those who died which has recently been set up on the Severn shore close to where the remains of the two vessels can still be spotted at low tide.
