Defunct holding pontoon for ships

awaiting entry to Bristol Docks from the River Avon and the Severn Estuary. The tunnel in the background is the line to Avonmouth and quite often goods trains pass that are stacked with cars or vans that have come in to Avonmouth in huge ships and are then parked in enormous car parks that can be seen from the M5.

Before Bristol became a 'Floating' Harbour by the by-passing of the Docks by the New Cut and installing locks at either end of the Harbour, it took a long time to unload and reload ships as they rose and fell on the tide. Often ships had to wait on moorings out in the river until there was space in the Docks to unload their cargo. Sometimes it meant such a long wait that the cargo spoiled before it was unloaded

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