A FINAL event commemorating the opening of the Sharpness New Dock is due to take place this Saturday.

The celebration will mark the 150th anniversary when the dock officially opened back in 1874.

Volunteers have hosted various Sharpness 150 events throughout this year.

The free event on Saturday - which will start at 12pm - will include a dramatisation of the ceremony that saw the first ships enter the New Dock.

There will also be people dressed in Victorian attire, a new set of guest speakers, rare photos and artefacts on display plus the chance to see a stationary steam engine at work.

The Old Dock was opened in 1827 to provide an entrance from the River Severn into the newly constructed Gloucester & Berkeley Canal.

In November 1874, the New Dock was later opened with large warehouses and extensive cargo handling facilities along with lock gates double the size of those already used.

An organiser said: “We are ending our year of Sharpness 150 events – commemorating the 1874 opening of Sharpness New Dock – with the Sharpness 150 celebration.

“Throughout 2024, events have brought together local communities and visitors to celebrate the past, present and future of Sharpness docks, its industries and the many personal stories they have helped to shape.

“The team is building an online resource to preserve generations of Sharpness stories and is eager to help community members create their own local events to build on the legacy of Sharpness 150.”

Sharpness 150 is a multi-organisation initiative led by volunteers from the Vale of Berkeley and the Stroud Vintage Engine and Transport Club, with support from the Gloucester Harbour Trust, the Gloucestershire Heritage Hub and Canal & River Trust.