Severn Trows, working vessels on the River Severn

I was in Worcester yesterday and came across this little plaque showing a Severn Trow, by  the bridge across the River Severn.

The plaque reads, "Up to the mid-nineteenth century, this River was the main commercial artery of the West Midlands linking to the sea at Bristol. The Severn Trow was one of the vessels used, typified by its open gold, flat bottom and D shaped stern. "

The  Severn Trows  plied their trade on the river many years ago, but are no longer in use. You can see the remains of some of these little vessels, including the Alma and Jonadab  at the ships' graveyard at Purton, Gloucestershire, where many other types of vessels were hulked to shore up the banks of the river.   I came across a scale model of the Severn Trow  Norah,  in the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich  and made a stamp collage depicting her in full sail  in her heyday. She was built in 1968 and sadly beached one hundred years later.   A  framed print is currently on show in the exhibition, Stamping Ground 2 in Gloucester Guildhall, Eastgate Street until 31st October .

Severn Trow, Norah, Stamp Collage by Rachel Markwick 

National Maritime Day in USA 22nd May

Days of celebration seem to come thick and fast at the moment and in the USA today is National Maritime Day when people remember those involved in the maritime trades.  I came across this fact while browsing on the internet researching for future work on my stamp collages, which often feature ships and boats.
My research recently took me to Bristol where I visited  the M Shed situated on the harbourside near the SS Great Britain, which I have yet to visit!   I found many interesting exhibits inside including a model of the Severn Trow Alma,  detailed in the Museum's label shown here.  A great subject for one of my collages, so must get sorting out the stamps!