Tue 2 Oct 1810
Meeting at Globe Tavern Fleet Street, London
Rules, byelaws and orders passed on the 7th April 1789 beginning ‘That all boats passing the five locks below the summit pond’ be revoked and repealed.
Also, rules, orders and byelaws passed on the 8th December 1789 be revoked and repealed.
The following rules and orders be made byelaws accordingly.
1. That no boat of less burthen than sixty tons shall use this canal or pass through the locks between Brimscombe Port and Inglesham Lock between the first day of April and the first day of December in every year except the same be loaded with salt and of the length of sixty feet and of the width of twelve feet. And that from the first day of December and the first day of April no boat of of less than 40 tons burthen do pass any lock of this canal between Brimscombe Port and Inglesham Lock without permission of the company agent at Brimscombe Port or at Siddington and every bargeman, waterman, boatman or other person offending against this byelaw for every such offence forfeit five pound.
2. That no shaft or pole exceeding fourteen feet in length or which has not a knob of wood of six inches diameter at least affixed at the end of it be used in managing any boat or vessel or vessel navigating this canal - And that every bargeman, waterman, boatman or other persons navigating such boat or vessel who shall use or have on board for the purpose of using
Any shaft or pole shod with iron or with a cross bar of wood at the end, or use any rope, or line wrapped or twisted round the shaft or pole to turn or stop any boat or vessels or shall use or have on board for the purpose of using any shaft or pole of any other dimensions or description than that first is described shall for every such offence forfeit the sume of twenty shillings.
3. That no boat or vessel shall be navigated upon this canal with the stern foremost or without a rudder at the stern, or without three efficient men at least able to work it nor shall any boat or vessel whether loaded or unloaded be haled along the canal without a person at the helm to guide the same nor without the haling line being affixed to the mast to prevent the boat running or beating against the bridges, banks or other parts of the canal; and the bargemen, watermen and boatmen or other person belonging to such a boat or vessel offending against this byelaw for every such offence forfeit the sum of twenty shillings.
4. For every empty boat or vessel passing upon this canal shall give way to every loaded boat or vessel until the loaded boat or vessel has cleared the empty boat or vessel and that every loaded boat or vessel going from Cirencester or Siddington in each line of this canal shall give way in manner as aforesaid to every loaded boat coming towards Cirencester or Siddington and the bargeman or waterman or any other person belonging to such boat or vessel will forfeit forty shilling for each offence.
5. That no boat shall pass any lock stop gate, tunnel on this canal when it shall appear that there are not two clear inches of water between the bottom of the boat and the sill of such lock, stop gate or tunnel. Offending against this will forfeit forty shillings.
6. That all coals, goods, merchandize, and other things which shall be unloaded upon any wharf shall be placed at least five feet from the water edge and in such part of the wharf as the wharfinger shall direct and order. Offenders will forfeit forty shillings.
7. That where stone timber or other things whatsoever are put on board any boat or vessel not at a wharf belonging to the company notice thereof shall be given to the company’s wharfinger at the nearest wharf to such place of loading and a permit conformable to the regulation of the Act 23 Geo 3- 33 there taken out before such boat or vessel shall proceed on her passage. Offending forfeit forty shillings.
8. Every loaded boat coming up to any wharf belonging to this company shall be unloaded as soon as may be without delay. Forfeit for offending is five pounds.
9. That every loaded boat or vessel when arrived at any wharf, which is not ‘Bona Fide’ loading or unloading and also every boat or vessel which has been loaded or unloaded at any such wharf shall be removed and make way for every other boat or vessel coming up to the wharf and every bargeman waterman boatman or other belonging to such boat or vessel firstly or secondly above mentioned offending against this bye law shall for every such offence forfeit the sum of forty shillings.
10. That if any bargeman, waterman, boatman or other person shall take into or discharge out of any boat or vessel the whole or any part of the loading of any boat or vessel upon the bank or banks of any aqueduct on this canal or shall unload or discharge any loading upon the bank of any lock without permission of the company’s agent at Brimscombe Port or Siddington (and having obtained such permission are liable to pay the same wharfage as at any regular wharf) or forfeit forty shillings.
11. That no bargeman, waterman, boatman or other person be permitted to steer more than one boat at a time or have any boat in tow, nor shall any person under eighteen years of age attempt to steer or take the management of any other boat or use the locks upon this navigation. Offenders will forfeit twenty shillings.
12. Every bargeman, waterman, boatman or other person belonging to a boat shall when the same is not navigating the canal haul the boat to the side of the canal and there moor and fasten her at both ends and keep her there so moored as not to incommode the passage of the canal or towing paths or loading or unloading of any boat. Offending against this byelaw forfeit forty shillings.
13. That if any boatman, waterman, shall willfully unmoor any boat and leave the same adrift or shall float any planks or timber along the canal will forfeit twenty shillings.
14. That if any boatman, waterman, bargeman or other person shall throw stone or other rubbish into the canal or wash sheep or bathe therein or turn horses, cattle, sheep or swine loose upon the towing path of this canal or throw or send in any way dog or other animal into the canal shall forfeit twenty shillings.
15. If any bargeman, boatman, waterman, or other person navigating any boat leave any gate or gates, bridge or bridges open longer than is necessary for the horse or person haling (hauling) for the boat or person to pass through shall forfeit twenty shillings.
16. That boats going through the tunnel from Daneway shall enter the Sapperton end thereof at twelve o’clock at noon and at twelve o’clock at night and at no other time. And boats going through the tunnel from Thames Head shall enter the Coatsfield end thereof at Seven o’clock in the morning and at seven o’clock at night and no other time and every bargeman, waterman, boatman offending shall forfeit the sum of five pounds.
17. That the watchman at Daneway shall keep the paddles of the Daneway Upper Lock always padlocked except at the times when any boat or vessel be actually passing. And that he do not suffer any water to be drawn from the summit level at Daneway Lock in any dry season when there shall be a scarcity of water till six hours after the last boat entered that end of the tunnel except for the purpose of letting down such boats as may then be waiting above Daneway upper lock to go downwards.
18. That if any Bargeman, waterman, boatman or other person shall hale (haul) an empty boat or other vessel on this canal with more than one horse or shall hale any loaded boat with more than two horses will forfeit forty shillings.
19. Any bargeman, waterman, boatman or other person shall use the towing path for any purpose than as a towing path without written leave from the company agent at Brimscombe Port or at Siddington. For every offence forfeit forty shillings.
20. That every bargeman, waterman, boatman who shall obstruct, oppose or hinder any agent or other servant of the company in the execution of their duty in carrying these byelaws into full and complete effect shall forfeit five pounds.
Signed John Disney Chairman Witnessed by Harry Harford.
Agreement between the Thames and Severn and the Wilts and Berks companies confirmed and approved. Committee at liberty to vary the agreement made at Abingdon if necessary. Some respectable and large proprietors unable to attend this meeting have signified their wish that a survey of the best point for a junction be made by some other able surveyor as well as Mr Black. Some other engineer of eminence to be requested to survey the best point of union for the Thames and Severn canal.
Committee re-elected.
