The Purton Hulks Phase 1 Report No 14 Wrecking barge Petrus The Friends of Purton Compiled 1 st March 2010
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Contents 1.1 Vessel identification page 5 1.2 Photographic comparison page 6 1.2.1 Historic image c.1935 1.2.2 Current image 2010 1.3 Initial Assessment page 7 1.3.1 Field notes 1.3.2 Field images 1.4 Damage Report page 10 1.4.1 Damage notes 1.4.2 Damage photographs 1.5 Further research page 11 Copyright Louis Paul Barnett & The Friends of Purton, 2010 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior permission in writing of Louis Paul Barnett or The Friends of Purton. All images not marked remain the sole property of Louis Paul Barnett and are not to be reproduced without prior permission in writing. - 3 -
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1.1 Vessel identification Vessel Name: Petrus renamed Retriever Friends of Purton Site Number: 14 D.G.P.S grid reference: Bow 051 44.207 002 27.396 Stern 051 44.201 002 27.416 Type: Canal wrecking barge Official Number: No information Signal Code: N/A Builder: No information Build date: No information Rebuilt: c.1946 Beaching date: 23 rd March 1931 Dimensions: No information Heading: 081 Significance: Very little is known about this vessels previous history prior to coming to Gloucester c. 1946 however it is felt that she may have been a substantially constructed ocean going craft. - 5 -
1.2 Photographic comparison 1.2.1 Petrus at Purton c. 1935 1.2.2 Petrus 13 th February 2010 (Daniell 2010) - 6 -
1.3 Initial Assessment Abbey field notes Phase 1 The Friends of Purton PHR1.3.1 Surveyor name(s) Janet Presley Date of survey: 20-02-10 Site description Extended linear foreshore feature representing mature grassland and riverine marsh fringe over alluvial shale, mud and silt deposits. Vessel Name Petrus Vessel Site No. 14 Vessel type Wrecking barge Official number No information Highlight vessel position on the plan: Note extent of remains: Bow: Parts of rubbing strake, fragments of stempost,?samson post Port side: 1 frame towards bow, 1 metal knee towards bow Stern: rudder, rudder stock, sternpost, large knee Starboard side: 4 frames Visible external dimensions Length: 43.2m Width: Depth: Heading: 081 º Visible internal height Bow: 1.3m Port: n/a Starboard: n/a Stern: rudderpost 1.4m sternpost 0.77m Height, in metres, of tallest visible part (state which): 1.5m exterior of rudder Probe survey depth of buried features 0.90m Vessel O.S. Grid reference SO 68568 04330 Vessel Construction: Wooden Clinker or Carvel built oakum visible/not visible. Concrete Metal: Composite Stern design: Square Canoe Elliptical Not obvious Structures: Rudder + fixings Futtocks Keelson Mast step Cargo Cabin Pintle Gudgeon Port holes Mast fixings Internal planking stringers, wales Funnel External planking stringers, wales Chain plates Wooden knees Gunwale Engine housing Boiler Bowstem fragments Iron knees U shaped at bow & stern Bilge pumps Keel Sternpost Ballast holds Other: Fixings: Treenails Nails Spikesv Other: Mooring/towing gear: Cross bracing Nuts / bolts Rivetsv Anchors Winch Fairleads Other: Rubbing strakes wood (sides) bow (metal) Samson post Cleats Wood / metal Markings Tar covering Toolmarks Rope marks Other: Builders' marks Paint (e.g. numerals) Other observed features: Cut off copper bar through stern fixings, 0.71m. Cuboid samson post, stern, top 0.3m square, with partial metal band Evidence of metal fixings having been cut off very few remains of metal fixings. U shaped stern knee outer edge: 1.9m Port side from interior of rudder to far edge of nearest P frame:5.7m. Field notes & observations - 7 -
Figure 1: External starboard view of stern and rudder (Presley, 2010). Figure 2: External port side view of stern and rudder assembly (Presley, 2010). - 8 -
Figure 3: Internal view of stern (Presley, 2010). Figure 4: Bow remains from starboard side (Presley, 2010). - 9 -
Petrus damage report Phase 1 The Friends of Purton PHR1.4.1 Known historical overview of damage: C. The remains of a boat. A post and some frames protrude from the west side of the mud chute pill; the dimensions suggest a substantial boat, either a barge or a sea-going vessel. A. J. Parker, GLOUCESTERSHIRE SITES & MONUMENT RECORD Timber removal circa 1960, Timbers exposed constant erosion and water action and in real danger of being eventually washed away through natural processes (see fig 1). Record all signs of observed damage (tick predominant type/s) Removal of man-made Excavation Bait digging Graffiti features Irresponsible recreation Burning Timber salvage Vandalism Vehicle disturbance BBQ Metal recovery Erosion Other activity (please specify) Noted period of damage: (tick) Historic Current On-going Location of damage on vessel: Bows Stern Port Starboard Entire Vessel Estimated levels of damage <30% <50% <70% to approximate remaining visible timbers Estimated archaeology remaining <10% <50% <70% above current ground levels Appraise/rate location as per environmental damage (tick) Imminent Marginal None apparent Vegetation coverage Dense Medium Low Area of deposition (tick) Bow Amidships Stern Port Starboard Area of erosion (tick): Bow Amidships Stern Port Starboard Photographs (dated copies) of newly damaged areas attached: YES NO Site photographs (tick) YES NO Submitted to archive YES NO Field Notes compiled (tick) YES NO Submitted to archive YES NO Image References Thumbnail image of damage (insert digital picture) figure 1 Petrus remains awash and in danger SIGNED:... PRINT: L P BARNETT DATE: 31 st January 2010 TIME: 11.00 2.00 PM - 10 -
1.5 Further research *Emergency excavation and recording of remaining timbers required with immediate effect. Thereafter it is proposed to conduct an ongoing programme of in depth archaeological surveys to include: Phase Two: duration 2011-2014 Full DGPS site survey Comprehensive programme of historical research and data review Full off set archaeological survey Comprehensive scale drawing survey Photo-mosaic survey Full depth probe survey Phase two final report submission date 2014 Phase Three: duration 2013-2015 Aerial survey Ground penetrating magnetometer survey Comprehensive 3D Laser survey Limited excavation amidships - intersecting port/starboard to determine keel construction and condition. Limited excavation foreword - intersecting bow to determine construction and condition. Limited excavation aft - intersecting stern to determine construction and condition. Ongoing annual monitoring programme of decomposition Phase three final report submission date 2015-11 -