Wed 1 May 1912
To G W Keeling, civil engineer
Cheltenham
I am sorry I have not been able to see you respecting the lockkeepers. I will explain as well as I can. First there is the lockkeeper at Framilode, who does nothing but look after the water and tides, no banking or towing path work and is on average employed roughly half time. His wages are 12s a week with house rent free and one ton of coal for night work when tides are on. The next lockkeeper is at Eastington, acts as yardsman and does other work, wages 16s per week house rent free. The next is at double locks who attends to work night and morning. This man is in charge of the dredging boat wages 16s per week with house rent free. The next man is at Dudbridge who works with the dredging boat and attends to the wharf and water nights and mornings and cleans paddles etc on Saturday afternoons. Wages 16s per week and house free. On T&S Canal from Stroud to Chalford there are three lock keepers. They have house free and 16s per week. They attend to water, banks, towing path and when wanted work with the dredger - in fact do just what I want them to do. All men except two and the engine driver at Thames Head are discharged between Chalford and Inglesham.
