NOTABLE DATES IN THE HISTORY OF THE RIVER SEVERN
0897 Upton upon Severn King Coenwulf mentions the foundation of the town
0973 Newtown Newtown came into existence. It was known as Llanfair in Cedewain
1154 Gloucester Construction began on the first Westgate Bridge
1171 Newnham on Severn King Henry II sailed from Newnham on Severn for Ireland
1189 Gloucester Construction completed on the first Westgate Bridge
1210 Gloucester Severn frozen over for up to four miles above Gloucester
1230 Gloucester First bridge at Maisemore recorded
1280 Llanidloes Foundation stone for town laid, the first town on the River Severn
1457 Newnham on Severn Records show that a ferry was here in 1457
1460 Gloucester Ashleworth Court built
1460 Gloucester Ashleworth Manor built
1483 Gloucester Duke of Buckingham’s flood at Gloucester
1515 Gloucester Tithe barn built at Ashleworth
1553 Severn King Henry VIII prohibited the taking out of elvers from the Severn
1558 Severn Queen Elizabeth I made the elver prohibition order permanent
1580 Gloucester Queen Elizabeth I grants Gloucester a Port Status
1605 Upton upon Severn Stone bridge built across the river at Upton upon Severn
1607 Severn Estuary Large tide, heavy rain resulted in disastrous floods on the lower Severn
1638 Coalbrookdale Furnace constructed by Basil Brooke at Coalbrookdale
1643 Ripple The Parliamentarians defeated in battle
1644 Newnham on Severn 17 soldiers drown in Severn whilst crossing river in a boat
1651 Upton upon Severn Fierce battle fought on the 29th August in Ripple field
1677 Severn King Charles II also banned fishing for elvers from the Severn
1678 Bristol Abraham Darby I born
1709 Coalbrookdale Abraham Darby I transfers his business from Bristol to Coalbrookdale
1711 Coalbrookdale Abraham Darby II born
1713 Shrewsbury John Gwynn born
1717 Coalbrookdale Abraham Darby I died
1723 Quatt Sir John Wolryche died near Quatt whilst swimming with horse in Severn
1750 Coalbrookdale Abraham Darby III born
1757 Eskdale Thomas Telford born
1763 Gloucester Timber company of Price-Walker Ltd established
1763 Coalbrookdale Abraham Darby II died
1768 Atcham John Gwynn's bridge preserved as a monument
1770 Severn 30 years of rain during this period
1774 Shrewsbury English Bridge built [Completely rebuilt between 1925 & 1927]
1775 Llandrinio Llandrinio Bridge built
1775 Ironbridge First meeting held to discuss a river bridge
1778 Severn King George II allows elvers to be taken from Severn
1779 Ironbridge Construction began on the world's first Iron Bridge
1780 Coalport First wharf built at Coalport
1780 Coalport Wooden bridge built over the Severn at Coalport
1781 Ironbridge Iron Bridge opened to traffic on 1st January
1781 Worcester Worcester Bridge opened [rebuilt 1847 & 1932]
1785 Gloucester 8 people drowned from ferry at Maisemore after day out at fete
1786 Shrewsbury John Gwynn died
1786 Coalport Tar Tunnel at Coalport dug out
1786 Severn Royal Humane Society formed due to high death rate on Severn
1787 Severn First iron barge, The Trial, built by Mad Iron Wilkinson launched on Severn
1789 Coalbrookdale Abraham Darby III died
1790 Powys Thomas Penson born
1792 Gloucester Gloucester Prison opened. Build work had begun in 1787
1792 Montford Thomas Telford's first bridge opened in Montford, Shropshire
1793 Gloucester Construction of Gloucester & Berkeley Canal authorised by Parliament
1793 Gloucester Construction began of the building the Gloucester & Berkeley Canal
1793 Coalport Hay Incline Plane opened at Coalport, Shropshire
1793 Shropshire Shropshire Canal opened
1794 Gloucester Work began on building the Gloucester Dock basin
1794 Coalport Coalport established as a village
1795 Severn February 11th is the highest flood the River Severn has experienced
1795 Shrewsbury Welsh Bridge opened
1795 Coalport Coalport Bridge damaged by floods
1796 Buildwas New bridge designed by Thomas Telford built at Buildwas
1799 Gloucester Lack of money meant work ceased on building the Gloucester & Berkeley Canal
1799 Gloucester Construction of Gloucester Dock main basin completed
1799 Coalport 28 china workers drowned in Severn at Coalport whilst crossing the river on ferry
1801 Bewdley Bewdley Bridge, designed by Thomas Telford, opened
1802 Newnham on Severn Fare paying ferry began from Newnham on Severn to Arlingham
1809 Severn A very serious flood recorded
1809 Newnham on Severn 3 men drowned in river off Newnham on Severn
1809 Gloucester The old Westgate Bridge demolished. Construction began of new one
1810 Bullo Pill Bullo Pill Dock opened for the export of Forest of Dean coal
1810 Lydney Lydney Docks developed as a port
1810 Newnham on Severn A scheme was proposed for the construction of a tunnel under the Severn
1810 Bridgnorth Bridgnorth Bridge rebuilt to a design by Thomas Telford. [Also rebuilt in 1960]
1810 Coalport Chain making began at Coalport
1812 Gloucester Gloucester Lock opened from dock basin into the River Severn
1812 Newnham on Severn On Friday 13th November water broke into the tunnel workings
1813 Lydney Lydney canal built
1817 Gloucester Building again the Gloucester & Berkeley Canal with Telford as consultant
1817 Severn Sir John Fowler born
1818 Severn Severn flooded 5 times and longest drought on record in the UK
1818 Tewkesbury In separate accidents 2 Naval Officers and a small boy drowned in the Severn
1818 Gloucester Small drydock constructed in Gloucester Docks
1818 Coalport Coalport Bridge built on the original wooden structure of 1777
1818 Coalport Coalport Bridge now constructed of iron
1821 Lydney Tidal Basin built at Lydney Docks
1821 Newtown Montgomeryshire Canal reached Newtown, where it terminated
1821 Caersws Stone bridge built at Caersws, Powys
1824 Gloucester Barge Arm opened in Gloucester Docks
1826 Gloucester North Warehouse built. Once occupied by Priday Metford & Co
1826 Llanidloes Long Bridge built of stone at Llanidloes
1826 Tewkesbury Mythe Bridge has early construction problems. Thomas Telford brought in to assist
1827 Gloucester Building of the Gloucester & Berkeley Canal completed
1827 Newtown Long Bridge, designed by Thomas Penson, opened at Newtown
1828 Holt Holt Bridge, designed by Thomas Telford, opened
1830 Gloucester Biddles Warehouse built
1831 Gloucester Thomas Telford's famous Over Bridge opened. Now preserved as a monument
1833 Gloucester Shiptons Warehouse built
1834 Gloucester Lock Warehouse built. Now occupied by the Antiques Centre
1834 Gloucester The Pump House, near the drydocks, was built
1834 Severn Thomas Telford died
1838 Gloucester Pillar Warehouse built
1839 Aust Aust ferry sank with all hands lost
1840 Gloucester Reynolds, [or Sturges] Warehouse built
1840 Gloucester Vinings Warehouse built
1843 Llandinam The first iron bridge built in Montgomeryshire. Designed by Thomas Penson
1844 Bevere Bevere Island Bridge built in Worcestershire
1845 Gloucester Customs House built in Commercial Road
1846 Gloucester Phillpotts Warehouse built
1846 Gloucester Kimberley Warehouse built
1846 Gloucester Herbert Warehouse built
1848 Gloucester Offices located at top of Commercial Road built
1848 Arlingham On the 29th August the vicar of Arlingham drowned at the age of 40 years old
1848 Shrewsbury Railway Station built on top of Bridge over Severn
1849 Gloucester Victoria Basin opened in Gloucester Docks
1849 Gloucester Weighbridge house in Southgate Street built
1849 Gloucester Mariners Church in the docks built
1849 Gloucester Victoria Warehouse built
1851 Gloucester Albert Warehouse built
1852 Severn Serious widespread flood recorded
1852 Gloucester Llanthony Quay built for the Gloucester & Dean Forest Railway
1852 Abermule The Brynderwen Bridge, designed by Thomas Penson, opened
1853 Gloucester The large drydock built in Gloucester Docks
1855 Newnham on Severn Elijah Rowles Phillips drowned in the Severn [see also 1875]
1858 Tewkesbury Upper Lode Lock built
1859 Powys Thomas Penson died
1859 Newtown Newtown to Llanidloes Railway completed
1861 Gloucester Britannia Warehouse built
1861 Upper Arley Victoria Railway Bridge now used by the Severn Valley Steam Railway
1861 Coalport L&NWR Railway opened at Coalport
1862 Gloucester Foster Oil & Cake Mill built
1862 Gloucester The original Llanthony Bridge built
1863 Gloucester Great Western Warehouse built
1864 Bewdley First train passed over Dowles Bridge on the 5th August
1864 Saxons Lode Railway line opened on the 16th May
1866 Newnham on Severn Henry Brace aged 18yrs drowned in the Severn on the 28th June
1868 Caersws Train derailed at Caersws falling into Severn killing driver and fireman
1869 Gloucester Albert Warehouse converted to a flour mill
1870 Gloucester Alexandra Warehouse built
1870 Gloucester Llanthony Lock Keepers house built
1871 Gloucester Maisemore Weir built
1871 Gloucester Llanthony Weir built
1872 Severn Constant rain produced serious flooding
1873 Gloucester Llanthony Warehouse built
1873 Severn Estuary Construction began of the Severn Railway Tunnel
1873 Severn Elver fishing banned causing a public outcry
1874 Sharpness Sharpness [New] Docks opened
1875 Newnham on Severn 2 brothers drowned in Severn, [brothers of Elijah Rowles Phillips, see 1855]
1875 Sharpness Foundation stone of new Railway Bridge laid on the 3rd July
1876 Severn Act of Parliament passed to allow elver fishing in the Severn
1878 Sharpness 8th January First fatality on the Severn Rlwy Bridge. John Tomkins of Ruardean
1879 Sharpness William Aston of Lydney killed on the 1st March on the Severn Railway Bridge
1879 Sharpness Thomas Roberts of Viney Hill killed on the 3rd June on the Severn Railway Bridge
1879 Gatcombe Thomas Shaw was drowned when his boat overturned in the Severn
1879 Sharpness First train travelled over the Severn Railway Bridge with a private party on board
1879 Sharpness The Severn Railway Bridge was officially opened on the 17th October
1886 Gloucester Priday Metford & Co began milling in the City Flour Mills
1886 Severn Estuary The Severn Railway Tunnel was opened with a length of 4.75 miles long
1887 Sharpness Sailing ship PRINCE VICTOR lost off Sharpness with cargo of oil
1888 Gloucester Gloucester Quay wall built
1889 Newnham on Severn 2 boys aged 7yrs & 9yrs drowned in the Severn on the 17th July
1892 Gloucester Gloucester Lock deepened for the use by larger vessels
1892 Gloucester Monk Meadow Dock built
1892 Newnham on Severn George T Widdows aged 13yrs drowned in the Severn
1898 Severn Sir John Fowler died
1899 Gloucester Downings Malt House built
1900 Gloucester GWR Railway line at Hempsted opened
1907 Coalport The interchange at Coalport of the Shropshire Canal with the Severn closed
1907 Coalport Hay Incline Plane closed
1910 Naval HMS GLOUCESTER commissioned
1910 Sharpness Sharpness [Old] Dock ceased to be used
1912 Ironbridge Blists Hill furnace closed
1916 Frampton on Severn Cadbury's factory at Frampton on Severn opened
1916 Newtown Newtown badly flooded
1919 Gloucester Construction of concrete ships began at Hempsted, the CRETERAMPART, etc.
1922 Naval HMS GLOUCESTER scrapped and bell presented to the city on 28th January
1922 Gloucester Construction ceased of concrete ships at Hempsted
1922 Newtown Newtown again badly affected by floods
1922 Jackfield Jackfield footbridge opened
1923 Severn Act of Parliament passed prohibiting the spearing of freshwater fish in the Severn
1924 Gloucester Last vessel passed through Llanthony Lock
1925 Gloucester First cargo of petroleum came to Gloucester by barge
1926 Bullo Pill Bullo Pill Dock ceased trading
1926 Severn All worked stopped on the river during the General Strike
1926 Coalport Coalport China Works closed
1927 Worcester Petroleum began to be transported to Worcester and Stourport by barge
1927 Newtown Parsons Bridge swept away by floods
1928 Aust Storm carried away pier at Aust. Ferry service in decline
1929 Severn John Harker Limited began trading on the Severn with the JANET A
1930 Ironbridge Iron Bridge closed to traffic
1933 Newtown Work began on rebuilding Parson's Bridge
1935 Severn Severn & Canal Carrying Co began carrying petroleum products on their barges
1936 Newtown Newtown badly flooded
1937 Ripple 100 acres of land at Ripple used by the RAF for storage of petroleum
1937 Gloucester GWR Railway line at Hempsted closed
1938 Haw Bridge Torso discovered 10th January in Severn at Haw Bridge
1939 Gloucester John Harker Ltd and the Severn & Canal Carrying Co formed Gloucester Shipyard
1939 Severn Estuary Three tanker barges hit the Severn Railway Bridge. 6 men killed
1940 Gloucester Construction began of the new Castle Meads Power Station
1941 Naval HMS GLOUCESTER lost in action off Crete
1946 Severn Estuary Slimbridge Wildfowl Trust started with Sir Peter Scott
1946 Sharpness Sharpness Shipyard started by John Harker Limited
1947 Ironbridge Worst floods recorded at the Ironbridge Gorge
1947 Severn 3 months of snow and freezing conditions. Quick thaw saw worst flooding on Severn
1948 Gloucester DARLEYDALE H, [tanker barge], lengthened at Gloucester Shipyard
1949 Severn Estuary Grain barge FOX ELMS hit Severn Railway Bridge and sank.
1950 Severn Severn River Board formed from the defunct Catchment Board
1950 Ironbridge Tolls removed from the Iron Bridge
1952 Coalport Last passenger train from Coalport on the L&NWR
1952 Jackfield Jackfield Tile Works closed
1954 Gloucestershire Stroudwater Canal closed
1958 Tirley Haw Bridge knocked down by tanker barge DARLEYDALE H. Skipper killed
1960 Newtown Newtown again suffered disastrous floods
1960 Sharpness On the 25th October two tanker barges hit the Severn Rlwy Bridge killing 5 crew men
1961 Severn Estuary Tanker barge BP EXPLORER overturned killing 5 crewmen
1962 Gloucester Priday Metford vacated North Warehouse and allowed to deteriorate
1963 Severn Severn River Board took delivery of their new barge RIPARIAN
1963 Ironbridge The GWR at Ironbridge closed
1964 Powys Construction began of the Clywedog Dam
1964 Newtown Newtown suffering from yet more flooding
1965 Gloucester New timber yards built at Monk Meadow Quay
1966 Newtown Severn River Authority begin a flood defence scheme for the town
1967 Powys Construction of the Clywedog Dam completed
1967 Sharpness Training ship VINDICATRIX towed away for scrapping at Newport
1968 Severn 9th and 10th July 125mm of rain fell causing local flooding
1968 Oldbury Oldbury Nuclear Power Station began producing electricity for the National Grid
1968 Sharpness Severn Railway Bridge demolished
1969 Severn Regent tanker barges ceased trading on the Severn
1969 Severn Bowker & King Limited began trading in the Bristol Channel
1970 Jackfield Maws Tile Works at Jackfield closed
1972 Gloucester Construction began of a new Westgate Bridge
1974 Gloucester Construction completed of the new Westgate Bridge
1975 Gloucester John Harker Limited ceased trading on the Severn
1977 Severn Estuary Severn Auxiliary Rescue Association [SARA] formed
1983 Jackfield Marshall Osborne foundry at Jackfield closed
1985 Llandinam Llandinam won the best kept village in Wales title
1987 Gloucester Llanthony Warehouse opened as the National Waterways Museum
1989 Severn The Severn Way [East Bank] officially opened
1992 Powys First Bridge on the Severn opened by Lady Hooson
1992 Shrewsbury Three bridges built over the Severn on the huge Shrewsbury Bypass
1992 Severn Estuary Construction began on the Second Severn Crossing
1994 Gloucester Priday Metford & Co closed down the flour mill at the City Flour Mills
1996 Severn Estuary The Second Severn Crossing officially opened on the 5th June by HRH Prince Charles
1999 Gloucester Construction began on replacing Westgate Bridge with new bridge
2007 Gloucester 20th July: 90mm of rain fell over city and caused widespread local flooding.
2007 Tewkesbury 22nd July: Mythe Waterworks out of action due to Severn flood levels.
2007 Gloucester July and August, Gloucester and Cheltenham without domestic water for some time
2014 River Severn Record amount of rain fell over SW England for January & February. Much flooding.
