Tue 20 Sep 1904
Annual inspection of canal from Framilode to Eastington by Mr Stanley Marling and Mr Edward P Little with Mr Snape.
Outfall works at Framilode in good order. One of Company’s cottages let at £6. Steps down to water require slight repair.
Reeds and rushes on banks of Frome require cutting.
Bank near Junction Inn orchard on off side of canal requires piling.
Water of Whitminster pound drawn off to allow Berkeley Canal Co to make Shallow Lock a serviceable lock. Banks of mud on offside below the lock and Junction have fallen in. Shallow Lock had about six feet of mud in it and large accumulation above it as far as weir. Small portion of brickwork of lock and wing requires repairing. Mr Jones, engineer of Berkeley Canal, undertook to do what was necessary. Cost in separate account.
Towing path needs puddling 50 yards above Shallow Lock. Banks of brook require piling by land owner adjoining bridge. Towing path near Stonepits Bridge has given way. Requires taking out for 15 yards and piling.
Sheep washing in canal should be prohibited. Great damage to banks, requiring piling.
Stone, coal and rubbish washed into canal opposite wharf at Bristol Road Bridge.
Two piles required to offside of Cowground Bridge.
Brick out of parapet Eastington Bridge.
Chairman visited the restoration of Shallow Lock by Sharpness Docks Co. Effective head of water, about 8 inches. Adjustment of lock weir remained and raising and repairing of towpath banks, eastwards.
Bill forwarded from Mr Jones for taking out and filling up place of old trunks in bank of river. Clerk to ask for explanation from Manager of Sharpness Docks Co.
Repair of Lodgemore culvert cost £38 3s 1d. Messrs Strachan stopped their works on payment of £10 from Reserve Fund.
Question of right of way for bicycles to cottages and gardens at Ryeford, owned by Sir William Marling. 1864 agreement allows access from public road to their coal pen and to gate of adjoining gardens. Plan of locality to be sought.
Mr Vick paid 5s outstanding for sheep washing, but warned that if sheep damage banks permission may be withdrawn.
Correspondence with Mr Southall of Severn Commission and Mr Butler, manager of Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal Co as to through rate for coal from the Littleton Colliery at Otherton near Penkridge. Accepted 6d through rate rather than 8d for Littleton coal brought to Stroud and Chalford, and 5d instead of 6d to Stonehouse and Dudbridge.
Injury done to Stonehouse swing bridge by the Reliance which captain strongly denied. Evidence not clear, action suspended for present.
Application by Gloucester Harbour Board for renewal of £6 contribution to stand over.
Account against Severn and Coal Carrying Co. challenged by them as inaccurate. Account amended.
Post Office authorities recently replaced old Telegraph cable, laid on bottom of canal, short distance east of Junction, Saul, with five new cables. Proper agreement and fee for easement to be arranged.
Application from clerk of Wheatenhurst Rural District to renew privilege of filling Saul Ditch at intervals with water from canal for sanitary reasons. Agreed, under control of Company’s staff. Payment in advance one guinea p.a.
[1904 20.Sept.] Committee Meeting held at Wallbridge on Tuesday the 20^th day of September 1904 @ 3 o'clock pm
Present: Mr C H Hooper Chairman, Mr P J Evans, Mr E P Little, Mr A B Hooper, Mr S S Marling, Mr F A Little, Mr Whittingham in attendance Solicitor
[SURVEY REPORT] The following Report by the Inspection Committee appointed at the last meeting viz: Messrs E P Little and S S Marling, of their survey of the Canal from Framilode to Eastington, was presented and necessary instructions were given, for matters requiring attention.
_Report_ Mr Stanley Marling and Mr Edward P Little accompanied by Mr Snape made the Annual inspection of the Canal on Wednesday 27^th July.
The Outfall Works at Framilode were found in good order, one of the Company's Cottages is to let at a rental of £6..- the steps down to water require slight repair when Mason is down there.
The reeds and rushes on the Banks of the Frome require cutting.
The Bank requires piling near the Junction Inn Orchard on the off side of Canal.
The water of the Whitminster Pound having been drawn off to allow the Berkeley Canal Company to make the 'Shallow Lock' a serviceable Lock, Banks of mud on the off side below the Lock and the Junction have fallen in and require to be taken out.
The 'Shallow Lock' had about six feet of mud in it and a large accumulation above it as far as the weir (about 50 yards) a small portion of the Brickwork of the Lock requires repairing also the wing of same; Mr Jones the engineer of the Berkeley Canal, who was on the spot, undertook to do what is necessary and place the cost to a separate a/c. the liability for the payment of which he must leave to be settled between the two Company's.
The Canal Towing path requires puddling for 50 yards above Shallow Lock.
The Banks of the Brook require piling by Landowner adjoining the Brook Aqueduct.
Owing to the water being out of Canal the Towing path near 'Stonepits Bridge' has given way and requires taking out for 15 yards and piling.
In the opinion of the Inspection Committee sheep washing in the Canal should be prohibited as it does great damage to the Banks which require piling where this has taken place about 25 yards 5 feet wide.
The Reeds on the banks of the lower part of the Canal require the usual cutting.
It is suggested that the stone, coal, and rubbish washed into the Canal opposite the Wharf at Bristol Road Bridge should be removed now the water is out.
Small repairs required to parapet of Bristol Road Bridge
Two piles required to offside of Cow ground Bridge
Eastington Bridge, brick out of parapet
Is an acknowledgement given for Post Box in wall of Eastington Bridge?
[Chairmans visit to 'Shallow Lock' Whitminster] The Chairman reported having visited, the previous day, the 'Shallow Lock' Whitminster, now completed as to its restoration, with an effective head of water (about 8 inches more or less) by the Sharpness Docks Company. The adjustment of the Lock weir with the weir at the side of the 'Frome' remained yet for Mr Snape's settlement with Mr Jones, as also the raising and repairing of the towpath banks, eastwards, beside some incidental matters, all of which Mr Snape expected to be able to report on at the next Meeting of the Committee.
[Bill forwarded by Mr Jones re old trunks in bank of river near 'Shallow Lock'] A bill forwarded by Mr Jones for the cost of taking out and filling up the place of certain old trunks in the bank of the river, amounting to £7:4:6, the Committee could not see to be payable by this Company, and instructions were given to the Clerk to ask an explanation from the Manger of the Sharpness Docks Company.
[Lodgemore Culvert] Mr Snape reported the satisfactory repair of the Lodgemore Culvert, at a cost for materials, etc, of £38:3:1
[£10: sanctioned by Chairman paid Messrs Strachan & C^o: re Lodgemore Culvert] The Chairman explained that this included £10 which he had taken on himself to sanction, at a critical moment where it had become impracticable to proceed with the work on account of the water, and which Messrs. Strachan & C^o had courteously offered for that sum, to stop their works, and leave the brook dry for the necessary time, which resulted in the completion of the repair, and restoration of the traffic simultaneously with the end of the stoppage at Whitminster.
[Reserve Fund re Lodgemore Culvert] The Committee considered the means of providing for this special outlay, and sanctioned the use of the 'Reserve Fund', but instructed the Clerk to include certain further incidental outlay, which had been charged to current wages etc.
[Bicycles on Towing Path & right of way to Canal Cottages at Ryeford.] With reference to the question of a right of way for bicycles to the Cottages & Gardens at Ryeford, owned by ---Messrs Marling & C^o--- Sir W^m. H Marling the minute of September 20^th 1864 was produced, showing that the payment by Messrs Marling & C^o (1/- per annum) covers a right of access from the Public road to their coal pen (under certain conditions) and also to the gate of the adjoining gardens. As this does not, by a considerable distance, reach the Cottages, it was decided on Mr. Marling's suggestion to look up any plan of the locality that may be in existence, against the next Meeting of the Committee.
[Bathing at Cainscross] The sub. Committee appointed in reference to Bathing at Cainscross, reported that the Parish Council had given up the idea for this summer.
[Sheep washing] The Clerk reported that Mr. Vick (Whitminster) had paid the balance (5^s/) of the charge for his 'sheep-washing'. In view of the report of the Survey on this point, it was decided to inform Mr. Vick that the injury to the Banks, would oblige them, with regret, to withold such accommodation in future, unless with some understanding as to this.
[Through rate Staffordshire coal.] The Clerk presented a correspondence he had had with Mr. Southall of the Severn Commission, and Mr. Butler the (new) Manager of the Staffordshire & Worcester Canal C^o. as to a through Rate for Coal from the 'Littleton Colliery' at Atherton near Penkridge.
[Canal rate on Coal] It appearing to the Committee that the 'Stroudwater' ought not to refuse to join with the other Canals, which had made concessions, the Clerk was authorized to agree to accept, as its share of such 'through Rate', sixpence instead of the present 8^d for 'Littleton' coal brought to Stroud and Chalford, and Five pence instead of 6^d to Stonehouse and Dudbridge
[Injury to Stonehouse Swing Bridge] The Clerk reported an injury as having been done to Stonehouse Swing Bridge by the 'Reliance' which the Captain of the vessel strongly denied.
The evidence not being sufficiently clear, it was decided to suspend, for the present at least, any action respecting the occurrence.
[Gloucester Harbour Board] An application by the Gloucester Harbour Board for a renewal of the Contribution (£6:) of this Navigation, was ordered to stand over
[Severn and Canal Carrying Company] The Clerk submitted an A/c against the 'Severn and Canal Carrying Company', which had been challenged by them as inaccurate, because not making the 'allowance' agreed to by Minute (folio.397. 2^nd May 1904) . Mr. Snape had reserved this for the sanction of the Committee. The terms of the Minute were referred to, and the Clerk was directed to amend the Account as suggested.
[Telegraph Cable laid on bottom of Canal at the Junction.] It appearing that the Post Office authorities have recently replaced their old Telegraph Cable (11 wires) laid on the bottom of this Canal, a short distance East of 'The Junction', Saul, with five new Cables (each 4 wires) the Clerk was instructed to communicate with the Superintendent, and arrange a proper agreement and fee, for the 'Easement'.
[Wheatenhurst R.D. Council water for 'Saul Ditch'.] An application from the Clerk of Wheatenhurst Rural District Council, for permission to renew the privilege of filling 'Saul Ditch', at intervals, with water from the Canal for sanitary reasons, it was agreed to grant the same, under the control of this Company's staff, on a payment in advance of one guinea a year. An agreement giving effect to this, to be prepared against the next Meeting of this Committee.
[Committee Meeting & General Meeting Oct. 18^th 1904.] Ordered: That the next Committee Meeting be held on the 18^th October next, at 3 o'clock pm. General Half Yearly Meeting on the same day at 3.30pm.
