Wed 20 Oct 1926
Memorandum of 15 September meeting read and approved.
Swing bridge at Stonehouse soon ready for erection. Messrs The Ryeford Saw Mills Co.’s estimate, £27 15s, for deck planking accepted.
Canal Inspection Report, Stonehouse to Wallbridge. Mr Margetson and Mr Bloxam:
Many weeds about Ocean Long Pound between Ocean Bridge and Stonehouse. Weeded once during 1926. To be done again during the fall.
Nutshell Bridge stone and brick work bad in places.
Stonehouse Brick Bridge same as Nutshell. New bricks needed on west side. Surface bad. Stroud Rural District Council notified.
Stonehouse Wharf: Good rent paid by County Council. E T Ward & Son Ltd pay small rent for notice board. Toll for any coal brought by rail.
Vowles’ bridge removed. Pivot exposed, has many years of life. Much heavy timber crosses bridge to Messrs Vowles’ works. Share in upkeep of surface wise. Right of way along portion of towpath discussed with Mr Vowles.
Midland Bridge at Ryeford has bad decking. Percolation of rain water affecting surface of towpath.
Several overhanging trees on Brunsdon’s side opposite Ryeford Cottages need lopping.
Ryeford Bridge: Side facing Stonehouse needs pointing and re-bricking. East facing side also bad. Bad hole in towpath near bridge.
Two chestnut trees on Ryeford Hall estate need lopping.
Ryeford Swing Bridge must be painted.
Reach from Stonehouse to Double Locks has many bad holes in towpath, probably due to wasps’ nests. Several willow trees on towpath side about saw mills want lopping.
Bad leak in lower gates in smaller lock at Double Locks. Over 50 years old. Another leak caused by hole in brickwork. Gates not good but should do the little required.
Brickwork of Oil Mills Bridge bad. Cleaning off desirable.
Wing walls of weir at Ebley Mills require piling and sheeting.
Hilly Orchard Bridge must be painted.
Poplar trees on Marling School ground below Gas Works require lopping.
Watchman at Lodgemore Mills takes water for garden purposes. Suggested charge 1s per annum.
Paddles near Lodgemore Bridge must be attended to. Piling and sheeting required.
Swing bridge repairs: Plank renewed in swing bridge at Saul, 4 planks in swing bridge at Shallow Lock. Planking to be obtained for repair of top decking of Lodgemore Bridge.
Letter from Mr Barton, Lower Woodlands, Stroud re horse riding on towing path. No objection to him, at own risk, using towing path in present hunting season.
Canal towpath stopped, 11-15 October.
[1926 Oct] Committee Meeting held at Wallbridge on Wednesday the 20^th day of October 1926 @ 3 o'clock pm
Present: Jack Margetson, Henry R Hooper, Edward P Little, W R Bloxam, R J C Little.
The Memorandum of the proceedings at the Meeting on 20^th October, when only three members were present, was read and approved.
Mr Whiting
Ordered that the matter of the claim against Mr Whiting be adjourned indefinitely.
Admiralty Guage at Framilode
In accordance with minute of last Meeting a letter had been written to the Officer in charge of the works at Pembroke Dock, to which he had replied that the Companys letter had been forwarded to the Admiralty for instructions.
Swing Bridge at Stonehouse
It was reported that the Swing Bridge would soon be ready for erection.
Ordered that Messrs The Ryeford Saw Mills Cos estimate of £27..15..0 for deck planking be accepted.
Canal Inspection Report: Stonehouse to Wallbridge, M^r Margetson and Mr Bloxam.
The report made by these Gentlemen was read and the thanks of the Committee tendered to them for it.
[Inspection Report] Inspection 27^th July 1926
From Stonehouse Ocean Bridge to Stroud.
Many weeds about the Ocean Long pound between Ocean Bridge and Stonehouse. Although weeded once during 1926 will have to be done again during the fall.
[Nutshell Bridge] Needs attention stone and brick work bad in places.
One exceptionally bad break should be seen to at once.
[Stonehouse Brick Bridge] Condition much the same as above (Nutshell Bridge). New bricks wanted on west side.
Surface of this bridge bad - not yet attended to by Stroud Rural District Council which was notified recently by Mr Snape.
[Stonehouse Wharf] Good rent being paid by County Council for this Wharf. E T Ward & Son Ltd pay small rent for Notice Board. They pay toll for any coal brought by rail.
[Vowles' Bridge] Bridge now removed. Pivot exposed by this removal appears to have many years of life. Much heavy timber crosses this bridge to Messrs Vowles' works. The arrangement with that Firm as to share in upkeep of surface a wise one. Mr Vowles was interviewed by the Committee of Inspection and the question of right of way along a portion of the Tow Path was discussed.
[Midland Bridge at Ryeford] Decking of this bridge is bad, and there is percolation of rain water affecting surface of towing path.
Several overhanging trees on Brusdon's side at Ryeford Cottages need lopping.
[Ryeford Bridge] One side of Ryeford Bridge facing Stonehouse wants pointing and re bricking. The side facing East, also bad.
A bad hole on Tow Path near this bridge must be filled up. Two Chestnut Trees on Ryeford Hall Estate want lopping.
[Ryeford Swing Bridge] Must be painted (See Report 28/5/24.)
[Reach from Stonehouse to Double Locks] There are many bad holes in Towing Path - probably due to wasps nests, should be seen to at once. Several Willow trees on tow path side just above the Saw Mills want lopping. In the lower gates in the smaller lock at Double Locks, over 30 years old, there is a bad leak, also hole in brick work made by leak between two stones on the water level. Both these leaks should be seen to at once. These gates are not good but should do the little required of them for some years.
[Oil Mills Bridge] Brickwork bad in places. A general cleaning off of this bridge is desirable.
Trees, property of Smith Rogers opposite Ebley Mills must be attended to.
The wing walls of the Weir at Ebley Mills require piling and sheeting at first opportunity.
[Hilly Orchard Bridge] The overhead foot bridge at Dudbridge must be painted.
[Dudbridge Locks] Heel posts at top gates, Upper Lock, referred to in 1924 Report are no worse, in Mr Snape's opinion.
Brick work Bottom Lock mentioned in same report has been attended to.
Poplar trees on Marling School ground below Gas Works require topping.
Watchman at Lodgemore Mills appears to take water for garden purposes. Suggest charge of 1/- per annum.
[Lodgemore Bridge] As far as can be judged appears to be in much the same condition as at 1924 Inspection.
Paddles near this bridge must be attended to. piling and sheeting required.
Swing Bridges - Repairs
It was reported that a plank had been renewed in the Swing Bridge at Saul, and that four planks had been replaced in the Swing Bridge at the Shallow Lock.
Lodgemore Bridge
Ordered that planking be obtained for the repair of the top decking of the Lodgemore Bridge
The work to be carried out at first opportunity.
Horse Riding on Towing Path
A letter was put in from M^r Barton of Lower Woodlands, Stroud. The Clerk was instructed to inform M^r Barton that the Committee would raise no objections to him, at his own risk, making use of the towing path during the present Hunting Season.
Towing Path
The Canal Towing path had been stopped to the public as follows:-
Stroudwater Navigation Co
NOTICE
Is hereby given that the use of the Towing Path of this Canal, by the Public, will be stopped on the following days, viz:-
1926 On Monday, Oct 11th at
Wallbridge G Cook
Lodgemore Bridge E Stevens
Gas Works Bridge G Brinkworth
and Dudbridge A Bassett.
1926 On Tuesday Oct 12th at
Hilly Orchard Bridge A Bassett
Ebley Mill Bridge E Stevens
Oil Mills Bridge G Brinkworth
Stanley Meadow L Pockett
and Ryeford Bridge G Cook.
1926 On Wednesday Oct 13th at
Ryeford Bridge A Bassett
R B L Pockett
Stonehouse Swing Bridge G Cook
Stonehouse Cross Bridge G Brinkworth
Stonehouse Ocean Bridge E Stevens
Bond's Mill Bridge J White.
1926 On Thursday Oct 14th at
Roving Bridge G Brinkworth
Eastington Bridge E Stevens
Westfield Bridge L Pockett
Bengough's Land nr Bristol Road G Cook.
1926 On Friday Oct 15th at
Bristol Road Bridge G White
Walk Bridge E Stevens
Junction G Brinkworth
Saul G Cook
Framilode R Pockett.
G Cook Foreman.
By Order of he Committee
P G Snape,
Clerk and Surveyor
Canal Office, October 4th 1926.
A letter from Mrs Katherine Rowntree of 9 Upper Brook Street, Park Lane, W 1 was read, regretting that no Dividend had been paid for some time.
The Clerk was instructed to reply that unfortunately the state of trade generally and the gradual disuse of Canals had prevented any Dividend being declared for some years.
Tonnage from 1^st July to 19^th October:
1926: 67..3..0
1925: 249..4..9
1914: 280..0..8.
For the month of September:
1926: 23..18..6
1925: 53..1..10
1914: 72..6..6.
Balance at Bank:
1926: 57..17..8
1925: 116..2..6
1914: 322..19..8.
Cheques drawn:
Committee fees: 1..12..6
A H Grant Heelas Tithe: 2..13..2
Post Master General Office Expenses: 2..10..5
NB Memorandum referred to in first para of the Verbatim Text was for the meeting held on 15th September.
