An Urban Wander near Gloucester Train Station

Having arrived too early for the hospital visiting hours, I decided to take a short wander to see what was around. I knew the area near the hospital was close to the one remaining Gloucester station, but was amazed at the size of the area that the old railway sheds and sidings used to occupy. This whole area seems to have been left pretty much to decay following the years of its abandonment and disuse, with I'm guessing all the investment and development going into the restoration of the Gloucester Docks instead.

Former engine shed and railway sidings, Gloucester

Former railway sidings, Gloucester

Former engine shed and railway sidings, Gloucester

Former engine shed and railway sidings, Gloucester

Former engine shed and railway sidings, Gloucester

Former railway sidings, Gloucester

Former engine shed, Gloucester

Abandoned building, Gloucester

Abandoned car park, Gloucester

Abandoned car park and building, Gloucester

Abandoned building and car park, Gloucester

    

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