A wander around Gloucester docks

With my recent eye for abandonment, decay, ghost signs and, of course, psychogeography, it was with quite some excitement that I visited Gloucester docks for the first time in probably about 20 years. If I'm honest I was a bit skeptical about what I'd find there, and whether it would be just another docklands redevelopment, but I was more than pleasantly surprised by the restoration of the original buildings. Admittedly there are a couple of fairly hideous additions, but overall this place was magnificent ... particularly as we were disciplined enough to stay dockside and not venture into the new shopping arcade.

Old railway crane, Gloucester Docks

The only words I can make out in the first ghost sign are

MANUFACTURING
COMPANY

Ghost sign, Gloucester Docks

I think this one reads

S.W.LANDROUND

 Ghost sign, Gloucester Docks

This dry dock is an impressive engineering feat, and by the looks of it it's still in use.

Dry dock, Gloucester Docks

Old British Waterways building, Gloucester Docks

I can make out the top line, but not the line beneath.

BRITISH WATERWAYS

 Ghost sign, Gloucester Docks

Another ghost sign for

BRITISH WATERWAYS

 Ghost sign, Gloucester Docks

These next few pictures show the buildings slightly further away from the renovated part of the docks.

I can decipher a couple of words on this next ghost sign, but there's plenty more I can't.

MALTSTERS G.W.E.DOWNING
HEAD OFFICE ?????????

 Ghost sign, Gloucester Docks

Abandoned building, Gloucester Docks

Street art really has to take my eye before I'll bother to take a picture, and this one fitted the bill nicely.

Street art, Gloucester Docks

 Abandoned building, Gloucester Docks

This next ghost sign was incredible, but really hard to find a decent position from which to take a picture. Across both side of the ghost sign is

G.W.E.DOWNING
MALTSTERS

and then on the left hand side is

HEAD OFFICE ???????????
BRANCH
SMETHWICK
BIRMINGHAM
WEST BROMWICH
WEDNESBURY
BLACKHEATH
WALSALL

and on the right hand of the sign

TEWKESBURY

 Ghost sign, Gloucester Docks

Easier to decipher this old sign

G.W.E.DOWNING
MALTSTERS
OFFICES

 Ghost sign, Gloucester Docks

I would imagine this bridge is no longer in use. I'm not sure whether the sturdy metal beams beneath the bridge are original or a more recent addition to prevent the structure from falling down.

Derelict bridge, Gloucester Docks

Another nice and easy to read old sign

THE
GOAT
INN

No sign of the former inn at all ... and no goats either.

Ghost sign, Gloucester