Thu 16 Feb 1775
Examination of owners of vessels to ascertain lengths and widths of vessels. William Symonds who has used the Severn for 15 years from Brosely to Bristol carrying 50 tons to 80 tons.
Average length 57 to 59 feet. Greatest length 68ft, breadth from 16ft to 17ft 6ins. Draught from 4ft to 5ft 6ins.
William Symonds objected to mouth of canal being near Mr Hall’s house as he had known the river to fill with sand so that vessels can’t get within 60 yards of the low water mark opposite Mr Halls wharf and rocks project out when there was no sand.
Thinks Kemmett’s Orchard best place for canal entrance. He doesn’t think there is a problem as long as the Stroudwater river (Frome) has current enough to scour out the sand.
Lower lock to be built 15ft 2 ins wide on a timber frame with bricks.
At a meeting of the Directors held by Adjournment at the George in Stroud on the 16^th Day of February 1775
Present: Will'm Dallaway in the Chair, George Hawker, Will'm Knight, Timothy Lewis, Thomas Baylis, Robert Ellis, Joseph Wathen, James Winchcombe, Rich^d Aldridge, Thomas White.
[owners examined] Examined Owner Will'm Symonds ~~he has used the Navigation of the Severn about 15 Years from Brosely to Bristol ~~ with Vessels Carrying from 50 Tons to 65 Tons.~~~
[Sise of Vessells] The Average of the Length of these Vessels from 57 to 59 Feet in the Floor the greatest Length to come into a Lock 60 feet the Breadth from 16 to 17 1/2 Feet.~~~
[Draught of Vessells] The General Draught of those Vessels are from 4 Feet to 5 1/2 Feet. That Vessels which will Draw but 4 Feet of Water will Carry from {Burthen] 54 to 57 Tons of Coal and some few 60 Tons.
[Canal at M^r Halls Objected to] He Objects to the Mouth of the Canal being open'd near M^r Halls house because he has known several Times the River so fill'd with sand that a Vessell could not at Low water come within 60 Yards of the present low water Mark, oposite M^r Halls Wharf--And that when there is no sand to Obstruct the Course the Rock projects out so far and so high that a Vessell may come down the Severn and there be no possibility of her getting into the Lock at that place, without Blowing the Rocks, or a Flood Tide.~~
[Canal at Kemmetts Orchard Approved] He looks upon the Ground call'd Kemmetts Orchard to be the properest place to open the new Canal.~~~
The advantage of this place is that he never knew a Time that the Sand was any Obstruction to a Vessell coming in close to the Land at Kemmetts Orchard Neither does he ever think there can be any Danger of the sand filling up the part as long as there is a Current which comes out of the Mouth of the Stroud River. That there is always water sufficient at low water for a Vessel to Lye along side Kemmetts Orchard that will Draw 6 feet of water and that there is not so good a place for a Vessel to lye for a Mile up or down the River.~~~
Will'm Pool and Luke Pool Agree exactly with Will'm Symonds That there is no State of the Tide That if a vessel is properly provided with an Anchor but may gring to and enter the Canal if made Thr'o Kemmetts Orchard.~~~
[Certificate Read] Read a certificate to the following Purpose~~~
It is the Opinion of the under mention'd Owners of Vessels Navigating the River Severn that Kemmetts Orchard is the most Convenient for fixing the first Lock-- Sign'd by
[Owner's names]
Edward Owen John Doughty James Lloyd
John Richards Francis Richards Luke Pool
Thomas Humphris Richard Loyd Edward Rousell
John Phillips John Oakes William Loyd
Samuel Loyde Thomas Bowen William Loyd
of Bridgnorth.
[Lower Lock where fix'd] Resolved Namoni Contra de Centi -- That the Lower Lock next the Severn shall be built in that Place call'd Kemmetts Orchard.
[to Apply to Mr Kemmett] Resolved that M^r Thomas Baylis do propose to M^r Kemmett to give him the same Price for his Orchard the Tenement and Barn that he gave for it.~~~
Resolved the Lower Lock which is in Tides way shall be Built on a Timber Frame agreeable to M^r Jones Modell.~~~
[Sise of the Lower Lock] resolved that the Breath of the Lower Lock shall be only Fifteen Feet two Inches Wide because the present Canal of 42 Feet will not admit of two wider Vessels to pass each other.~~~
[to purchase M^rs Wildings house] Resolved to Buy M^rs Wildings House and that M^r Kemmett be Apply'd to , to treat for it.~~~
[to treat with M^r Priddey] Resolved to treat with M^r Preedy about his being Chief Surveyor.
That M^r Grazebrook do Speak or Write to him to know if he can come down and Abide with us, and the Terms he will accept of~~ M^r Grazebrook to go after him, and to bring him down to the Next Meeting on Thursday Next.~~~
Resolved that the Next Meeting shall be on Thursday the 23^rd of Feb'ry next.~~~
[Bartletts proposalls Accepted] Resolved to Accept of Tho's Bartletts Proposalls for getting & Scabbling of 300 Ton of Stone for the Lower Lock at 1^s/6^d per Ton 20 Cubical Feet per Ton the Stones from two feet 6 Inches to one Foot in the Bed.~~
[M^r Jones Discharged] Resolved to Discharge M^r Jones and to give him Twelve Guineas which the Chairman is to Pay him.~~~
