A somewhat grainy image of a former factory from 2007 in the midst of its demolition to be replaced by a Shopping Centre in the docks area of Gloucester. As my memory serves me this was taken at Christmas time when there was little going on in the site and it was one of those bright winter days, a little in short supply as I write.

This was the Fielding and Platt building, manufacturing all sorts of hydraulic heavy lifting gear and if you want to know more they have a brilliant website right here The only heavy lifting around here now is done by shoppers.

So heavy engineering and a lost history was replaced by shopping. Even the flooring for the new Shopping Centre came from overseas, as no doubt, many of the goods for sale in the place.

And what did this massive change do for the City?

The good thing is it brought many more visitors into Gloucester and the Docks, but the downside is it sucked out all those who might have gone to the shops in the City. So Gloucester city centre is now looking very forlorn with many more empty shops.

So not only did it demolish a fine history with years of heritage, it also demolished any chances for the shops in the centre to regenerate and thrive. That’s well before Covid, so whatever is left in the centre has that to deal with too.

At least today the shops are closed…well most of them.

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A quick vote of thanks to all those who take the trouble to come and see me here, and those who go even further and click the like button. Here are some of my recommendations Mike Steeden ,that Irish chap , Enda. Then there’s this guy Thom Hickey on music: well worth a visit, and then this chap in Ohio who posts about lovely flowers. I like to look at this sometimes to gauge just what those crazy Americans are eating these days.There’s a history doctor too! Not forgetting that there’s someone in China who drops in now and again, if he or she tells her friends that could be a big boost to my stats, but I’m not really bothered, as I’d do this if I was only talking to myself, which I do at times.

I wish you all the very best in the coming year, even if I’ve not mentioned you here.