Tue 30 Jul 1839
Complaint from George Bengough of the Ridge, complaining of obstruction to flow of River Frome from Fromebridge Mills through culvert near Lockham Bridge. Accumulation of mud, soil and silt. Damming up of water by Gloucester & Berkeley Canal Co. at Whitminster Mills to throw water of stream over new weir for feeding their canal. Letter referring Mr Bengough to Gloucester & Berkeley Canal Co. Impediments in river above culvert. Letter to clerk of Gloucester & Berkeley Canal Co.
Mr Robert Davies’ complaint of want of repair for bridge across canal to his mill at Stonehouse. Committee to view on next tour of inspection.
Inspector Burbidge to go to Brockweir on River Wye to choose oak slabs belonging to Mr Swift and purchase about 6000 feet.
Baulks of memel timber to be purchased from Messrs Price, Washborne & Price of Gloucester, 1 for sheathing mud boat and 8 for swing poles for lock gates.
Job Blick permitted to raise about 40 feet of wall at Stonehouse Wharf near bridge at own expense.
At a Meeting of the Committee of the Stroudwater Navigation held at the Committee Room at Walbridge on Tuesday the 30^th day of July 1839
Present: M^r Cosham, M^r Hughes, M^r Sam^l Fisher, P H Fisher, M^r Henry Beard.
Examined the Books & accounts of the Company.
Read a letter from George Bengough Esq, of the Ridge, complaining of the obstruction to the flowing of the River Frome from Frombridge Mills through the Culvert near Lockam bridge; - considering same, when it appeared that the principal cause of the obstruction, (by accumulation of mud soil and silt there) is the damming up of the water by the Gloucester & Berkeley Canal Company at the site of Whitminster Mills, for the purpose of throwing the water of the stream over their New Weir for feeding their Canal; and thereby suspending the drawing off of the mud held in solution, as heretofore accustomed, when the stream passed in its old channel through the MillsL -
Ordered that a letter be prepared by our Solicitors for our Clerk to send to M^r Burgough in reply, pointing out the above as the chief cause of the injury complained of & referring him to the Gloucester & Berkeley C^o, and also mentioning impediments in the River above the culvert as forming an obstruction to the freely flowing of the Water: and also a letter to the Clerk of the Glouc^r & Berkeley Canal C^o requiring them to attend thereto.
M^r Robert Davis attended to make complaint of the want of repair to the Bridge leading across the Canal to his Mill at Stonehouse.
Ordered that the attention of the Committee be called to this subject when they shall next go down the Canal, on their next Tour of Inspection.
Ordered that Inspector Burbage go to Brockweir on the River Wye to chuse such Edging & Slats belonging to M^R Swift and purchase about 6000 feet -
Ordered that some balks be purchased of Memel Timber of Mess^rs Price, Washbourne & Price of Gloucester - one for sheething the mud boat, and 8 for swing poles to the lock gates.
Job Blick having applied to our Clerk for permission to raise, at his own expence, about 40 feet in length of the wall of Stonehouse wharf near the Bridge there -
Ordered that he be permitted to raise the wall accordingly, under the directions of our Inspector.
Ordered that the Committee proceed down the Canal and Tour of Inspection on Tuesday the 20^th of August, & for that purpose to start in the Boat from the Wharf at Walbridge at 8 o'clock in the morning.
