Sharpness
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Sharpness is an English port in Gloucestershire, one of the most inland in Britain, and eighth largest in the South West. It is on the River Severn at grid reference SO669027, at a point where the tidal range, though less than at Avonmouth downstream (14 m typical spring tide), is still large (10 m typical spring).
The village of Sharpness is pronounced with the emphasis on the second syllable, Sharpness, as compared to the common noun, which has the emphasis on the first syllable.
The Gloucester & Sharpness Canal starts here, and the river used to be crossed here by the Severn Railway Bridge - however, this was damaged beyond repair by a ship collision in 1960. (Proposals to reinstate a river-crossing at this point are frequently made especially by the local authorities in Lydney, which lies almost opposite Sharpness).
The Severn Area Rescue Association maintain a rescue station here.
Just to the south lies Berkeley.
The Port Authority for the impounded dock is British Waterways, but the quayside activities are run by Sharpness Dock Limited. The competent harbour authority for the river from the Severn Road Bridges up to Sharpness is Gloucester Harbour Trustees - they are responsible for navigation aids in the channel and for the provision of pilots. Pilotage up the river is compulsory (except for exemption holders) for all vessels over 100 deadweight tons.
| Settlements on the River Severn between Gloucester and Bristol (heading downstream) | edit | |
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Gloucester | Minsterworth | Newnham | Frampton | Sharpness | Lydney | Berkeley | Shepperdine | Oldbury | Chepstow | Beachley | Aust | Bristol |
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