Thu 22 Jan 1778
Mr Beswick’s men still not complying, so another lot of men to take soil away and charge the cost to Mr Beswick.
Samuel Smith is to raise boat sunk in canal and charge the expense to Alexander Clark.
Mr Dadford reported that hollow quoins in several of the locks are disjointed and must be better hewn and freshly laid with Barrow lime mortar from Leicestershire.
Greater attention must be paid to ramming the backs and ends of the locks with proper clay.
The sides of Westfield lock have come in by 5 or 6 inches. Mr Dadford recommends that the regulating weir to be taken up and put on the lower or south side of the lock.
Earth to be cut down to the 24ft Land Tyes on both sides of the lock.
Holes may be made about 3 inches square and about 6ft below the lower gate of every lock to drain the sides.
The quoins of the fifth (Court Orchard) lock to be new laid with Barrow lime mortar.
The sixth (Easton Road) lock to be made to use 14ft 6in.
The seventh (Nassfield Lock) begun on the wrong level. To be built with 12ft 6in fall where Mr Dadford has directed.
Mr Dadford advises two locks between Ryeford and Ebley provided the fall exceeds 16ft, and aqueducts to be built over the brook at Ebley Mill and the Mill Pond.
Cuckold Brook to be conveyed by culvert under canal and Painswick water by a wooden trunk.
Detailed instructions for constructing locks recorded in minutes (p.184)
Mr Dadford engaged on sundry Navigations so suggests Mr Clews as a surveyor.
Mr Dadford to be paid 15 guineas for expenses of journey and surveying.
Mr Pashley to sheet the inside of all upper gates.
At a Meeting of the Committee held by Adjournment at the George Inn at Stroud on Thursday the 22nd day of January 1778
Present: James Winchcombe, Thomas Baylis, Joseph Wathen, John Hollings, Robert Ellis, Durley Wintle.
Read the minutes of the last meeting.
Our Clerk has waited on Messrs Lane & Jepson in regard to the Conveyance of Mr Reddall's Land; they have promised to do the needful in regard to it.
Mr B Grazebrook not being returned, Messrs Hawker & Cook have not yet been waited upon; Ordered that Messrs Ellis and Grazebrook be desired to write to them as soon as they can.
Mr Colborne has promised to wait on Mr Wyatt before the next meeting.
Mr King's Account of Damages on Mrs Peach's Land to be considered.
Mr Turner has waited on Mr Harris of Glocester, in regard to the Lands belonging to the Corporation; he promised to write to Mr Selwin upon it, and expects his answer soon.
Mr Gleave reported that the Cutters do not Strictly observe the Order in regard to removing the Soil at the Distance he has directed. It is Ordered that Mr Gleave do sett some men to remove the said Soil, and the expense to be taken out of Mr Beswick's next payment.
Mr Smith Reported that he as fresh Stack'd the Bricks at Easton Road, and lay'd by as many as Eight Thousand unfitt for use; Ordered that he do continue to fresh Stack what remains at the other Brick Yards.
Ordered that Samuel Simmonds do raise the Boat that is sunk in the Canal, and that the expense be charged to Alexander Clark's Account.
The Order continued to raise the Land of John Hugh Smith Esq and M^rs Hort's.
Mr Edward Keene reported that he had been with Mr Davis, and has look'd out about fifteen Dozen Poles, which he offers to deliver to any part of the Work at 4s per Dozen; Ordered that Mr Smith do inform Mr Davis that we do agree to take the Poles that are look'd out at the price.
Ordered that Mr Beswick or his Brother do attend the next meeting.
Mr Dadford Reported that the Holllow Quoins in Several of the Locks are disjointed, and must be better Hewn, and fresh laid with Barrow Lime Morter from Leicestershire.
Greater attention must be paid to the ramming the backs & Ends of the Locks with proper Clay.
The sides of the fourth or West Field Lock are come in between five and Six Inches; to prevent this inconveniency Mr Dadford recommends the regulating wear to be taken up and put on the Lower or South side of the Lock.
The earth to be cut down to the Land Tyes on both sides of the Lock, and the Land Tyes to be pieced out to the Length of Twenty four feet.
He recommends that Holes may be made about three Inches Square and about Six feet below the lower Gate at every Lock to drain the sides.
The Quoins on the fifth or Court Orchard Lock being removed, must have better Joints, and be wholly new laid with mortar made with Barrow Lime.
The Sixth, or Easton Road Lock, to be made to rise fourteen Feet and Six Inches.
The Seventh, or Nass Field Lock being begun at the wrong Levell, to be Built where Mr Dadford has given directions to John Gleaves; This fall, twelve feet and a half.
Mr Dadford advises to have two Locks made between the Ryford and Elbey, provided the fall should exceed Sixteen Feet upon the Survey of Mr Dadford, who recommended a small Aqueduct to be made over the fore Brook at Ebley Mill, and also oner the Mill Pond. It is therefore agreed that the Flood Gates be removed higher than their present Situation, and a few Yards above the intended Lock. Cockolds Brook to be conveyed by a Culvert under the Canal and also Painswick water by a Wooden Trunk.
Recommended that the Cutters be employed below the Rye Ford till the Cutting is Completed to Chippenham Platt.
Recommended that the Construction of the future locks be as follows, Viz
The Back Walls to be Built 5 Feet 6 Inches above the Sill, and found and a half Bricks thick, and above that be four bricks thick, with the breadth of a Dry brick at the back for a Drain, to empty itself Ten feet below the Lower Gate at that Levell.
To diminish at the Top of the Lock to three & a half bricks thick, the dry brick on the back to be continued to the Top of the wall.
Twenty Lock Ribs in each Chamber, and one Lock Rib on each Side below the Gates, the whole making twenty two Ribs in each Lock, each Lock Rib to be five inches on one edge, and three inches on the other, and nine & a half Inches wide; the Lengths according to the fall of the Lock; each Rib to be within two Feet of the top of the Locks; Land Tyes to Do not less than Twenty feet long and nine Inches by four & a half, or a small tree splitt in the middle, the Anchor at the Ends to be not less than Six Inches square & five feet Long.
The morter to be well Tempered.
As Mr Dadford is engaged in sundry Navigations, and cannot give the attendance that is necessary, he reccommends Mr Clews as our Surveyor to Compleat our Navigation; and has promised to send to him, and if possible to engage him for us.
Ordered that our Clerk to pay Mr Dadford Fifteen Guineas for the expense of his Journey and Surveying.
Ordered that Mr Dadford be desired to apply to Mr Tho^s Edwards Brickmaker of Stourport, for his proposals to make Bricks for the Company, and that Mr Dadford be desired to Send us a Hogshead or two of Barrow Lime.
Ordered that Mr Pashley do Sheet the inside of the upper Gates of the Locks.
Adjourned this meeting to Thursday the 29th Instant at 4 oClock in the afternoon at the George Inn in Stroud.
Witness: Jos Grazebrook, J Winchcombe, J Wathen, Thos Baylis, Rob Ellis, Jn Hollings.
